Liverpool Tattoo Convention is always one of the highlights of our calendar, and this year we’re doubly lucky as there will be not one but two opportunities to visit the Adelphi Hotel for three days of tattoo excellence!

The Spring Edition will see live music and performances, competitions and awards, cheap beer, and tattooing from over 250 artists from the 27th to the 29th of May.

We’ll be there catching up with our sponsored artists. North of Winter tattoo studio are sending three of their artists; Sam Barber, with her neon colour realism cyberpunk pieces; Claire Hamill, a black and grey specialist; and Amy Edwards, creator of colour realism and portrait pieces.

Sonny Mitchell and Brad Wallis will also be present, offering incredibly realistic black and grey portraits, as well as Mark Bester and Dean Gunther, who both specialise in vibrant colour realism. Fans of black and grey realism, on the other hand, should be sure to check out Joshua Beatson and Helen Warren at the show.

Most of the convention takes place over the Saturday and Sunday, with Friday being a more intimate Artists Day. Some will take the day to set up, network, and visit the seminars and workshops, whereas others will get straight down to business tattooing their peers.

On Friday, the only award is for ‘Best of Artists Day’, presented for work started and completed at the show before judging begins at 6pm. On each of the other days, artists can submit their work to a number of competition categories, including large and small Black & Grey or Colour, as well as Realism, Blackwork, and the much-coveted ‘Best of Day’ and ‘Best of Show’.

The party keeps going after hours with live entertainment in the Adelphi bar from 7pm. Check out the live bands, rock karaoke, and of course the Awards ceremonies, then make your way to Sanctuary bar across the street for Sunday’s afterparty.

In and around the tattoo bonanza, you’ll find smaller events like the Boss Beard and Moustache Championships, offering gifts, awards and facial hair pride for everything from best stubble to best long beard. Or seek out the Tattoo Duel, where two artists work within the same time frame and theme to create the superior piece of body art. Winner gets a trophy and prize, while the loser gets a mystery forfeit!

Artists will be happy to tattoo you on the day, although if your heart is set on someone in particular, it may be worth reaching out ahead of the weekend.

We look forward to seeing you there!