A CONVENTION celebrating the skill and artistry of tattoo artists is set to return to Chester this September, with a special musical guest from the world of metal.

Chester Tatt Con will take place at the Mollington Banastre Hotel & Spa on Parkgate Road on Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1. The event will feature more than 60 tattoo artists as well as a dedicated piercer. Musician Benji Webbe of Welsh reggae-metal outfit Skindred will also play a special DJ set on Saturday at 5.30pm.

Visitors over the age of 18 will be able to get tattoos from the best artists from around the area. Prizes will also be given for a variety of categories, including the best black and white and best colour tattoo art.

Live music and entertainment will take place across both days. Those under 18 are welcome, with a host of child-friendly activities including a bouncy castle set up in the grounds of the venue.

Chester and District Standard: Benji Webber of Skindred will be playing a special DJ set on Saturday.Benji Webber of Skindred will be playing a special DJ set on Saturday. (Image: Chester Tatt Con)

Food and drink will be available to buy, provided by the hotel and there will also be a range of crafts stalls and drinks stalls, including unique alcoholic drinks such as small batch rums and vodkas.

Chester Tatt Con's inaugural event featured a Roman theme, celebrating the city's heritage, and this year's visitors will be encouraged to dress up once again with this year's theme, steampunk. A £100 prize will be up for grabs for the best costume.

Chester and District Standard: Visitors will be able to see work from the areas best artists.Visitors will be able to see work from the areas best artists. (Image: Chester Tatt Con)

Organiser Chris Coldrick owns two tattoo parlours in the Chester area - Just Inked in Saltney and Ye Olde Ink Inn in Owestry - and has won five awards for his artwork. It is his belief that the city should have an event which highlights its talented tattooists, in the way that other nearby cities do.

"I'd always wanted to run one, I believe the last time that Chester had a tattoo convention was around 25 years ago.

"There's conventions throughout the UK but they often are town-based and as a main city like Liverpool or Manchester, Chester should have its own convention, so last year we decided to organise one."

With tattoos increasing in popularity, Chris says that conventions offer artists a chance to show off their individuality and differentiate themselves in a growing industry.

"It's all about allowing tattooists to promote themselves and increase their customer base. Promotion is a big deal as nowadays there's a lot of artists, 20 years ago there was a handful of shops in Chester, but now there's many more."

The event will take place from 10am on September 30 and October 1.

Further information on ChesterTattCon is available here or search chestertattcon on social media.