CHANGING the image of tattoos and piercings - this was the ambitious aim of a York body art studio.

Becky Nicholas and Brendan Singleton spent more than a year sizing up the competition by trawling across the country looking at other studios which offered tattooing and piercing services.

The pair say they found most studios were dark and dingy and some even had bars on the windows. So they resolved to bring their profession into the 21st century.

Eighteen months ago, they opened 21st Century Body Art in Walmgate, York, and it has attracted customers from all ages and walks of life.

"We knew from the start the impression we wanted our studio to give, we wanted it to look more like a fancy beauty studio than a typical tattoo and piercing studio," Becky said.

"We wanted it to attract a different sort of clientele, those who wanted work done, but were put off by the way other studios looked. Eighteen months on and we know it's worked."

Both Becky and Brendan have clearly-defined roles within the business and they never swap. Becky does all the piercing while Brendan does all the tattoos.

Now the business partners are aiming to achieve success in the Evening Press Business Awards.

The hopeful duo have entered two categories, small business of the year and retailer of the year.

Updated: 10:38 Thursday, June 17, 2004