Mick draws them in

KATIE Coxon is impressed. "It's like a doctor's surgery in here. It's so much better than that other place I went to." Not many minutes later, she leaves the Ruby Arts tattoo parlour on Blossom Street, York, changed for ever. On her right foot, just below her partner's name in Chinese script, is the name of her one-year-old child: Keiren.

"It's lovely. I am right pleased with it," she said as she paid. She should not be surprised by the quality. The tattoo artist responsible is, according to those who know him best, an "ink god". And Mick Tomo has a cabinet full of trophies and hands-on experience of Matthew Kelly's bum to prove it.

Three of Mick's biggest fans are gathered to tell me about the artist and their role as his walking canvasses. Laurie Holtby, 37, Tony Young, 36, and a 41-year-old guy known only as Mad Andy (he's a Thai boxing instructor, so he can call himself what he wants) are in a race. They all want to be the first to have a full body suit: that is, to be covered from neck to ankle in tattoos.

Laurie made some ground last weekend with a seven hour session in which Mick etched a geisha girl above a temple dog on his torso. Laurie chose the Japanese theme because it is timeless, unlike his first tattoo: the name of the Eighties band Frankie Goes To Hollywood (which will soon be covered over by fresh artwork).

Frankie was only four years ago, but represented the realisation of a long held ambition.

"I had always wanted tattoos, but I had never been able to have them," said Laurie. "When you aren't married any more there's no one able to stop you."

Tattooing is not as painful as it was, apparently, but a big design like Laurie's still takes its toll. "You go through different pain thresholds. There was a little bit that absolutely wrecked me, then it went back to normal."

He kept cling film on his skin for four days to prevent it scabbing over and he is thrilled by the finished result.

Tony, a driver for Ace Taxis, describes being tattooed as an epiphany. "It's totally changed my life for the better.

"I had an obsession with tattoos since I was young. I enjoyed drawing them, going back to when I was eight years old.

"My parents were very strict. They didn't want me to have any tattoos, they didn't like them. I'm quite happy my mum and dad stopped me, as now the inks are better, the designs are better.

"Since getting tattoos, the real me has come through. It does help having one of the world's best artists doing you."

Among Mick's award-winning designs are the Native American portraits which adorn Mad Andy. They won trophies two years in a row at the Daytona Bike Week in Florida, America.

"It was awesome. I went out and got blathered," said Andy.

"I chose the Red Indians because I stayed with an Indian in Canada when I was 18. Out of respect for them, that's why I had them first done."

For him, tattoos are a life record as well as artwork. "If I can put something on me that means something to me, it will stay with me for the rest of my life."

There is a highly social side to tattooing. Both the artists and their living artworks gather at festivals here and abroad, which prove to be quite lively, if rarely remembered, affairs.

For Ruby Arts tattoo artist Mick, 37, the events allow him to travel around the world, showing off his work and gaining new inspiration from his peers. Generally he adds to his awards: the trophy count stands at more than 60.

Laurie, Tony and Andy's tattoos are remarkably detailed and vividly coloured. With such grand designs, Mick works partly from his own drawings but mostly straight from his imagination.

He is from an artistic family: his uncle Douglas Heald has painted famous views of York Minster and Shambles. But even from his days at Burnholme School, Mick was always interested in taking his talents in a different direction. "I wanted to do my own thing. That's why I did tattooing."

He taught himself through books, magazines and watching experienced artists. After acquiring the basic tools he experimented first on himself: a swallow on his leg. "The first tattoo looked all right. I thought: I might have another go."

That meant moving on to friends. "They knew what they were letting themselves in for. It's like anyone who has one: they have to have a lot of trust in you."

But the move from simple designs to the elaborate portraits was a long process. "It takes years and years and years of practice."

He takes his responsibilities seriously, and would like to see proper training and regulation for artists. Mick is also careful to allow clients time to think about what design they really want, particularly if it is a girl or boyfriend's name.

"I do them, but I don't like them. You get young girls wanting a boy's name. A couple of months later, they will want them off."

The only answer is to cover them up with another tattoo or opt to remove them with lasers, although green ink is very hard to remove.

But it is not only young girls who make this mistake: actor Jude Law is reportedly now trying to get his "Sexy Sadie" tattoo removed after his split with Sadie Frost. And when film star Johnny Depp fell out with Winona Ryder, he changed his tattoo from "Winona Forever" to "Wino Forever".

With the likes of David Beckham and various pop stars sporting tattoos, it is all becoming more mainstream and accepted. It is no longer an act of rebellion, and Mick approves. His customers, as many women as men, include bankers, lawyers, even a surgeon.

Then there are the celebrities. He has tattooed footballers, Emmerdale actors and Ulrika Jonsson ("many years ago. Just a small 'un").

Then there was Matthew Kelly's bottom, on which he etched the insignia from a ring sent by the Stars In Their Eyes star to his daughter who lives abroad.

That one, needless to say, did not win an award.

Ruby Arts Tattooing, 45 Blossom Street, York (01904) 620114

Updated: 08:55 Saturday, September 20, 2003