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JUDGING CATEGORIES

SATURDAY

Best Newcomer (judged on Saturday or Sunday, winner announced on Sunday)

The highest scores over the weekend win.  An artist with 3 years or less experience and no previous convention awards. This will need to be evidenced with a social media account history. Any style, colour, placement, any size. 

ELIGIBILITY WILL BE THOROUGHLY CHECKED AND THOSE FOUND TO BE OUTSIDE THE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING ANY OF THE COMPETITION.

Best Realism

(judged on Saturday or Sunday, winner announced on Sunday)

This can be entered / judged on Saturday or Sunday. The highest scores over the weekend will be one winner and runner up.  Any colour, placement, any size.

Best Small Black & Grey Tattoo

(judged on Saturday, winner announced on Saturday)

Any style or placement. No other colour permitted except white for highlights. Size up to A4

Best Small Colour Tattoo

(judged on Saturday, winner announced on Saturday)

Any style or placement. Must contain more than white, black and grey. Size up to A4

Best Small Blackwork Tattoo (judged on Saturday, winner announced on Saturday)

Any style or placement. Must be black ink only. Size up to A4

SUNDAY

Best Newcomer (judged on Saturday or Sunday, winner announced on Sunday)

The highest scores over the weekend win.  An artist with 3 years or less experience and no previous convention awards. This will need to be evidenced with a social media account history. Any style, colour, placement, any size. 

ELIGIBILITY WILL BE THOROUGHLY CHECKED AND THOSE FOUND TO BE OUTSIDE THE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING ANY OF THE COMPETITION.

Best Realism (judged on Saturday or Sunday, winner announced on Sunday)

The highest scores over the weekend will win. Any style, colour, placement, any size.

Best Large Black & Grey Tattoo

(judged on Sunday, winner announced on Sunday)

Any style or placement. No other colour permitted except white for highlights. Size over A4

Best Large Colour Tattoo

(judged on Sunday, winner announced on Sunday)

Any style or placement. Must contain more than white, black and grey. Size over A4

Best Large Blackwork Tattoo

(judged on Sunday, winner announced on Sunday)

Any style or placement. Must be black ink only. Size over A4

Best In Show

(winner announced on Sunday)

The tattoo that scored the highest score of the weekend.

ENTERING

Artists can choose to enter a single category in advance via the link (tbn) or the artist support location / QR code.

 Registration for compettion MUST be completed before 2pm on the day of judging. Each artist will be provided with a numbered card which needs to be presented at judging by the client. Artists will not attending judging with their client.

All tattoos entered MUST have been started and finished at the show. Tattoos must not be started before 10 am (although client prep can be completed before this time) and must stop at 7pm Saturday (5:30 pm if being entered) and 5:30 pm on Sunday.

Tattoos must be judged in person, photos or video will not be accepted.

All categories will have the runners up announced.

JUDGING

Tattoos for the Newcomer and Realism categories can be judged on Saturday and will be running against tattoos entered in these categories on Sunday.

Judging will take place from 4pm each day with clients being called forward by their number in batches. If your tattoo isn't finished don't worry, we will come back. All tattoos to be judged that day must be presented no later than 6:30 pm. We will start with the smaller tattoos allowing more tattooing time for larger pieces.

Judging will take place on the mezzanine above the main hall. Clients and Artists must attend the photo area in the Artist Support area before the client heads upstairs for the tattoo to be judged. For clients with mobility restrictions a lift is available. Please let a team member know. Artists must not attend the judging. 

We have four judges who are experienced tattoo artists with over half a century of tattooing experience. We also have a guest judge on Saturday replacing one of the four. This judge is an avid collector and not an artist.

The judging will take place ‘blind’ with the judges not being told the identity of the artist.

Each tattoo will be individually scored by each judge using the TattScore system.

The highest score for each category wins.

The judges decisions are final and cannot be challenged.

Any query or issue with the rules MUST be raised with the show management team prior to entering.

Any queries will be discussed by the judges and changes may be made to the rules until 25th July 2025.