Some people love them and others can't stand them, but one thing's for sure, the art of tattooing is here to stay.

And Huddersfield tattoo artist Jonny Gilbert, 31, is proving there's much more to ink than wobbly Tweety Pies and blurred script with his amazing realistic portraits.

Jonny works in his own shop, New Mind Tattoo Lounge in Standard House in the town centre, with his business partner Phil Wallis.

He says people book in with him from all over the country - and many customers say they didn't realise an artist was tattooing in his style in Huddersfield, instead thinking they had to go to London.

He says: "Portraits, Greek gods and statues are very popular at the moment, as are geometric designs and dotwork. They have replaced the 90s tribal style that was very popular a few years ago.

"I do mostly black and grey - I like things that challenge me."

Talented Newsome man Jonny, who grew up in Meltham and went to Honley High School, began tattooing after finishing his degree in transport design at the University of Huddersfield. He got an apprenticeship at Huddersfield shop Cactus Tattoo and within a year was ready to begin tattooing his own customers.

He said: "When you first pick up a machine you use fake skin - it's like latex and and is the size of a mouse pad. A lot of people think we use pigskin but that's very old fashioned and things have moved on since then.

"From there you practice on yourself. It hurts but because you're in control of the pain it's a bit weird - it's a bit like self harm, but you have to override that if you want to get into tattooing.

"As soon as you don't have to tattoo yourself any more, you don't!

"The first tattoo I did on myself was a little skull and crossbones on my thigh. It's my favourite. It's good to look back and see it - it shows me where I've come from."

"The first time I tattooed someone else I was really nervous! It took three times as long as it should have done because you're very aware that it's going on that person for life and you can't rub it out!

"Now five years down the line I'm still very aware it's going on the customer for life but I just try to do the best I can."