The secret lives of tattoo fanatics

Stefano Chila says people's reactions to his tattoos have helped determine whether or not he'll take a job. Photo / Facebook, Alan Powdrill

A London-based photographer proves you can't judge a book by its cover in his new series Covered, profiling tattooed individuals and the stories behind their body art.

Alan Powdrill's work, exhibiting in London next month, features images of people fully clothed juxtaposed with naked and partially naked shots revealing their heavily tattooed bodies.

For many of Powdrill's subjects, the secret of being heavily tattooed is part of the appeal.

63 -year-old 'Bill', says he loves the fact that he's middle-aged, has a professional job, and is surrounded by straight people "and I have 'No F***ing Way' tattoed on my chest".

Another office worker, Graham Platts, 58, tells Powdrill: "I was 51 when I started and my father was already dead and my mum didn't say anything as she was in the early stages of dementia."

Wearing dress pants, a shirt and tie, Platt removes his work wear to reveal a colourful body with barely an inch left un-inked.

Some spoke about the pain they endured to acquire their art, such as Kim Clancey, who said her Kiss tattoos were well worth it.

"The pain was incredible but it feels good to show my ultimate dedication to the band".

For Stefano Chila, people's reactions to his tattoos have helped determine whether or not he'll take a job.

"I've always worked in places where I could roll my sleeves up, no problem. I have been interviewed in more conservative places, where I've been asked to cover them. When I'm asked that, I know it's not the place for me."

As some might expect, subjects' mums were not always impressed. 'Stuart', now 22, remembers his mother trying to wash his first tattoo off when he came home with it at 14. That didn't put him off though.

"I'll stop when I die," he says. "Everything I want to remember gets tattooed on me."

To see more of Alan Powdrill's Covered photos, click here.