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Nov 01, 2023

Wishaw tattoo artist can't wait to return to convention he helped create after three year gap

Jim Aitken, who is based at Main Street Tattoo in the town centre, also runs the

Jim Aitken, who is based at Main Street Tattoo in the town centre, also runs the Scottish Tattoo Convention and will host over 200 tattoo artists.

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A Wishaw tattoo artist will be heading to Edinburgh next week as the convention he started celebrates its 10th edition.

Jim Aitken, who is based at Main Street Tattoo in the town centre, also runs the Scottish Tattoo Convention and will host over 200 tattoo artists, completing over 500 tattoos across one weekend at the O2 Academy Edinburgh, formerly the Corn Exchange.

And after a break of three years due to the pandemic, Jim can't wait to return to the venue on March 25 and 26.

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He said: "There isn't an event like this in Scotland so after such a long gap it’ll be good to get back.

"The first one we had was back in 2011 and we were all set to celebrate out 10th convention back in 2020. Everything was booked and then the lockdown hit a couple of weeks before it.

"This will be the first time in three years we will have seen a lot of the people so I think everyone is looking forward to it.

"Aside from the tattoo artists we have got some fantastic entertainment such as magicians, venders, body piercing and nail bars."

Jim has worked in tattoo shops for more than 25 years and has seen the industry grow immensely during that time including the number of female artists who ply their trade up and down the country.

He added: "When I was younger I was fascinated by tattoos. I used to go down to Davie O’Brien's shop in Wishaw and to see the colour and the noise was brilliant.

"I was desperate to get my first one and it just went on from there.

"It has certainly become more mainstream these days. It all started with musicians in the 80s and 90s and now it's footballers with full sleeves.

"It has become a lot more inclusive. In Wishaw more than 50 per cent of our artists are female, it's open to everyone."

The Scottish Tattoo Convention takes place on March 25 and 26 in the O2 Academy Edinburgh. Tickets cost £20 and are available on the door.

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