An exhibition about tattoos and tattooing in Melksham drew a crowd and sparked a discussion about whether the practice could be considered art.

The exhibition, at the Kings Arms in Market Place, was organised by Swansea Metropolitan University students Domonique Curaba and Rebecca Johnson, as part of a final year project towards their history of art and English degrees.

From 3pm on Monday visitors could chat with tattoo artists and designers, see a photographic exhibition of tattoos from initial drawing to the finished design, and watch a video of Miss Curaba being tattooed with a skull and flower design on her left shoulder blade.

Miss Curaba, who has relatives in Melksham, said: “I was really impressed with the turnout at the event. We got quite a big public reaction from it. We didn’t expect it to do as well as it did.

“We had quite a few people interested in the art and said they had negative connotations of tattooing before, but they’d changed their opinions because we were putting it in a different light, which, for me, was the main idea of the day.”

Among the tattoo artists at the event was Stewart Fish, of Melksham tattoo parlour South of Heaven, who is now keen to make the exhibition an annual occasion.

Tattoo designer Chris Steadman was also present, to talk about how an idea becomes a reality.

Tattooist Lucy Lorne was on hand to give her perspective on the industry.

Miss Curaba added that she would like to thank everyone who helped her and Miss Johnson organise the event.

She said: “The community of Melksham was willing to help out and I was really happy with how it all turned out.”