BODY art was the name of the game as Newport held its second annual tattoo convention at the weekend.

The event, held on Saturday and yesterday at Newport Centre, in Kingsway, attracted hundreds of tattoo enthusiasts from across Gwent and the UK.

Thirty-three working tattooists from around the country took part in the event, showing off their creative skills.

As well as watching the artists at work, there were plenty of other attractions to keep the hundreds of visitors entertained.

A Harley Davidson bike show, trade stalls, body piercer, tattoo suppliers and graffiti artists were also on hand.

The convention also brought live entertainment to the centre, in the form of New State Radio, Skint and Booze Brothers on Saturday and One String Loose, BreakHeart and Last Resort taking to the stage yesterday.

Organiser Sean Clifford said the success of last year's inaugural event had encouraged him to extend this year's convention to two days.

"We have had a really good response to both days," he said.

"We have had a couple of hundred visitors and everyone has enjoyed the displays. Both exhibitors and visitors are pleased, which is the main thing.

"Judging by the reaction of everyone involved, I'm hoping that this will now become an annual event in Newport."