More women than ever got inked up by world-famous tattoo artists at a popular convention.

This weekend marked the seventh annual Brighton Tattoo Convention, which was held for a second successive year at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel in King’s Road.

It played host to over 300 tattooists along with body modifiers, art workshops including a taxidermy class and a tattoo museum.

Brighton-based journalist Georgina Langford, 27, was getting a tattoo on her hand by artist Grace Neutral in one of the booths.

She said: "It's my second time at the Brighton Tattoo Convention, it's pretty overwhelming but it's really fun.

“My favourite part of conventions getting to meet and get tattooed by artists that I'd never get to see normally.

“The design fits perfectly so I thought why not.

"Tattoos have become a bit of a habit for me, they're really fun and they've just become part of my life."

Many of the convention's shops and stalls were geared towards females - from skull shaped jewellery to 1950s style dresses and homemade cushions.

Most of these businesses are run by women who say their tattoos have helped, not hindered their careers.

Model and burlesque performer Cervena Fox, 23, took punters by storm with her array of signed photos for sale, and credits her fans to her growing tattoo collection.

She said: "The more tattoos I get, the more work I get.

"A few years ago it was unheard of for mainstream models to have tattoos, but it's becoming more and more acceptable."

Belle Jorden, 22, from Shoreham is an assistant to tattooer Antony Flemming and she said: "I love Brighton convention, It's huge.

“Antony’s also my boyfriend. We work tattoo conventions in London, Brighton, LA and France.

"My favourite part of conventions is the atmosphere, the whole tattoo community get together and have fun. Tattoos are quite a social thing.

"I met Antony through tattooing, we started speaking about tattoos online when I asked to be tattooed my him. Tattooing isn't just my job now, it's my whole life."

Rebecca Crow, 21, an alternative glamour girl, feels the public's positive reaction to her look has helped her self-esteem.

She said: "When I was younger people told me I'd regret my tattoos but they've changed my life for the better. They've made me more confident and I'll never regret that.

“Now that tattoos are etched firmly in the mainstream, more and more women are going under the needle - not just as a style statement, but as a way to express their personalities.”