THE beauty of art lies in its perception to the person viewing and their interpretation.

To some, The Persistence of Memory by Salavdor Dali is nothing more than a series of oddly-melting timepieces, while Banksy is simply a renegade hoodlum with a stencil set and paint.

But transfer those lines and shadows onto someone’s skin and it sets off an entirely new debate.

The concept of tattoos and tattooing has existed for centuries, much like its sister species confined to the world of canvas, frames and galleries.

In a world of office culture and policy, the perception of a tattooed person – particularly with visual designs on hands and necks – may not always tally with the individual.

Yet, the combination of ink and skin still has the power to result in prejudice and derision.

This weekend the London Tattoo Convention rolls into the UK’s capital, with worldwide artists descending on the city for the three day expo.

Had it not been for a delay in purchasing tickets, Newport-based tattooist Marie Lowe would have made the journey in her capacity as an aficionado of the ink.

“The convention is an exhibition of different tattoo artists from all over the world,” said the owner of Miss Rie’s Tattoo Studio on Caerleon Road.

“It is good for people who live in the UK for example but want a tattoo by an American artist who happens to be coming over. They can get one done at the convention.

“It does broaden the base for the artist but it is very exclusive – it is very unlikely that if I applied for it that I would be accepted.

“My plan was originally to go but I didn’t sort out my train tickets in time. I am a bit gutted as it is amazing.

“There’s more to it than simply just the tattoos – there’s bands, fashion and clothes stall and even taxidermy.”

In her seven years as a tattoo artist, Miss Lowe, who appeared as a finalist on E4’s Tattoo Artist of the Year, has seen a shift in the desires of those looking for a tattoo.

“There is still this stigma surrounding tattoos, particularly those on show, I feel. But I’ve seen that the younger generation are keen to start with a more visible tattoo – on their hands or neck for example,” said the artist.

“It’s quite a large flip from the previous generation, who generally had their first tattoos in places which could be covered up. My first tattoo was on the side of my leg for example.

“With any designs that will be on a visible part of the skin, so fingers, hands and neck, we will ask them if they’ve confirmed with their work that they are allowed to have it.

“Usually, we do say no to fingers and hands – but that does depend on the number of tattoos they already have. If they are quite covered, then we will be more likely to proceed.

“If someone came in and said that they want their first tattoo to be on their hand, we could say no but it remains their choice.

“It is at the discretion of the artist and we are aware of so-called complications arising out of visible tattoos.

“The artist does have the responsibility to make the person aware that not everyone perhaps has an accepting view of tattoos.”

In the world of visible tattoos, a new phenomenon is currently making its way towards Wales - facial tattoos.

Miss Lowe said: “London has become something of a hotbed for facial tattoos and it’s starting to make its way westwards.

“With my facial tattoo, I decided a year before I got the tattoo that I was going to have it.

“Every time I told someone about it, except the guys I work with, they said “no – you’ll ruin your pretty face”.

“As soon as I got the tattoo, the feedback was quite positive.

“It was interesting to see the negative response before I even got the tattoo to the positive after it was done.

“There’s definitely still a stereotype about tattoos and people who are tattooed.

“I’ve heard people say in the past that when they see a tattooed person, they automatically assume they are rough. But that’s not just from the older generation as you would assume.”

A fan of tattoos since her youth, the artist first moved to south Wales for teaching but left to pursue her dream and set up her studio six years ago.

“I’ve always liked tattoos and I used to design them for my family when I was younger but I didn’t know how to become a tattoo artist,” she said.

“I thought it was quite an exclusive thing so I became an art teacher at first and I taught at the college in Crosskeys but I realised it wasn’t for me and I rebelled.

“I was about to move back to Portsmouth, where I’m from originally, but I was offered a job in a tattoo shop – just drawing.

“In Newport, there is a small tattooing scene which is quite up-to-date with more modern designs.

“The younger generation are pushing the new trends and are on trend so to speak with tattoos but there are still customers who want the more traditional, 90s tattoos.

“I would say that tribal tattoos are of the 90s. They are generally those which people don’t have to think about – Welsh feathers, Welsh dragons or religious ones – doves, crosses or clouds.”

Since appearing on the E4 show, and winning two awards at the Cardiff Tattoo Convention, Miss Lowe has seen her own style change.

“Earlier this summer, I won two awards at the Cardiff Tattoo Convention – the best of day and the best of show,” she said.

“It was a piece of a tiger and a dagger behind it.

“Since I was on the TV show, I have completely changed my style in terms of tattooing.

“I’ve moved onto colour work – or neo-traditional as it’s called.

“Before the change, I was just simply using black and grey. The style is a modern twist on the classics of tattooing.

“Traditional tattoos tend to be three colours and big black lines but to bring that up-to-date, you are still using the thick black lines but you are adding different line weights for the detail and a bigger colour range.”

Despite being an artist at heart, the tattooist is keen to using modern tools as she approaches her 2,000th tattoo since opening the studio, average roughly 300 designs per year - although that does depend on the duration of the tattoo, having previously spent nine hours on one alone.

“Sometimes I still draw them by hand but now I use the iPad – it’s amazing. The app I use is called Procreate and it’s worth the £4.49 on the app store,” said Miss Rie.

The London Tattoo Convention is taking place from Friday, September 22 to Sunday, September 24, at the Tobacco Dock, and for more details, go to origin.thelondontattooconvention.com