BRAVE and mad art lovers were tattooed as part of an exhibition launch.

The body art was needled in a temporary parlour set up at Hastings’ Jerwood Gallery to launch Jake and Dinos Chapman’s homecoming show, In The Realm Of The Unmentionable.

By lunchtime on the opening day last Friday, 11 people had one of 12 Chapman brothers’ drawings permanently inked on their body.

Dinos Chapman drew a one-off design in felt-tip pen directly on to agency showbiz reporter Rollo Ross’s bicep.

Chapman penned the outline of a deathly-looking creature in front of cameras from BBC4 and press from around the world.

As Mr Ross signed the disclaimer before the ink was set forever on his bicep, he admitted: “I’m dreading it... But I suppose I can sell myself now.”

A year ago Mr Ross made a pact with his sister to get a tattoo. When his boss suggested a Chapman number en route to the gallery, it seemed the prime opportunity.

“No second thoughts,” Mr Ross said, as Chapman called him back for a few last minute tweaks. “I’ve got to do it now.”

Michelle Taylor, from Hastings’ Monkey Paw tattoo parlour who was doing the tattooing, said: “Tattoos are more like art nowadays – they’re not just for seaside sailors.

“A lot of people who wouldn’t normally go into a tattoo shop have got one.”

The Chapman brothers offered free skin tattoos in Hastings after the original idea had been turned down by London’s Frieze Art Fair on health and safety grounds.

“We’ve been trying to tattoo people for a long time,” revealed Jake Chapman. “When you are an artist there is no limit, so of course we will do tattoos. It’s like expanding foam.”

Fans who were not keen for permanent artwork on their body paid £25 for removable transfer tattoos based on the 12 designs, as part of a crowd-sourcing campaign to raise £30,000 to bring work by the Hastings-born artists back to the town.

Jerwood Gallery director Liz said: “This is a unique exhibition for Hastings which responds to the town and we are thrilled to have Jake and Dinos here.”

l Read a full preview about the exhibition, which runs until January 7, in The Guide on Friday.