Creating art on skin attracts big crowds to event at Slieve Donard

Creating art on skin attracts big crowds to event at Slieve Donard

3 July 2024

TATTOO artists from across Northern Ireland, Ireland and England gathered in Newcastle’s Slieve Donard Hotel for a tattoo convention at the weekend.

The Royal Down Tattoo Convention kicked off for the first time with nearly 60 tattoo artists, four trade booths and over 300 guests.

The family friendly weekend also included music and performances by The Sin City Sideshow, which saw whip cracking, hula hoops, sword swallowing and knife throwing.

The organiser, Wayne Ellis, said he was “blown away” with how the weekend went.

“The support and the turn out from the general public have been very good,” he remarked. I just feel honoured that they’ve come to show a bit 

of support for what I’m trying to do here.

“I’ve been part of tattoo conventions for quite a few years now and a lot of times it’s been with business partners. I wanted to do this venture so that I had full creative control.”

Wayne has been within the tattoo community for almost 25 years and is grateful for the support of his family and friends.

“The convention is all my work, this is all my ideas that I’ve collected throughout the years to finally have it sitting here in front of me”.

Wayne runs Addicted2Ink in Newcastle, which he started by himself and now has seven staff members.

“I knew from when I was in the second year of high school that even if I wasn’t going to be a tattooist, I was going to be part of the tattoo community,” he continued.

“I loved tattoos. I was always into my art. It was never really about success or anything like that, it was about doing what I love, and what I enjoy doing every day”.

He hopes the convention will help people understand the tattoo community more.

Wayne’s fellow organiser and partner, Danielle Fitzpatrick, added: “The convention’s been really popular, more busy than I could believe. Artists are praising it. I thought it would’ve been local, but people are coming from all over.”

Stall holder Simon Cooke, who owns The Ink Spot in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, was one of those who praised the event.

He made it to the final of Channel 4’s Tattoo Artist of the Year in 2022 and is also self-taught.

After tattooing for 15 years, Simon says he feels inspired by events like the convention.

He commented: “These things should continue to go on. There should be more of them because it allows people to see what we do and it also allows people to see that we’re normal people. People who have tattoos are approachable, we’re not criminals.”

Sam McAleese, who runs Coven Tattoo in Ballymena, said: “The atmosphere here is just like no other tattoo convention I’ve been to. It’s just such a friendly place. The organiser is great and the people are lovely. It’s nice to be in that kind of atmosphere.

“It is about networking and making new friends in the industry,” he continued, “I live in Ballymena; there’s not many tattoo studios, so it’s nice to get connections and just grow as an artist.

“Definitely come to it next year because you’re going to be missing out if you don’t. It’s been one of the best tattoo conventions I’ve been to.”

The grand ballroom at the Slieve Donard was lined with stalls and tattoo beds. Designs were laid out on the tables for walk-in appointments.

Lesley Green, from Downpatrick, was getting a tattoo for the first time since she was 19.

“I’m really enjoying it here,” she said. “It’s my first time ever at a convention. It’s something totally new, so it’s exciting.”

Patrick McEntee, who is also from Downpatrick, was getting a Dragonfish tattoo.

He said: “The day is very good. Enjoyable. Wee bit of pain, but not too bad.”

Travelling all the way from Enniskillen, was Mark Lyons, who was getting a Joker tattoo.

“An event like this is a bit of fun,” he remarked. “You have to be a bit braver in front of people, you can’t cry. It’s not too bad [getting a tattoo in front of people], it’s a bit different. It’s more enjoyable because there’s a lot more to look at and there’s different things on like the shows. It helps through the pain.”

One of the sponsors of the convention, Michael McClintock, owner of Raw Tattoo Supplies, said: “This event opens up more doors to bring more international and local artists to Newcastle to help showcase this town.

“It makes me happy because you know that the tattoo community and the industry is growing.”