Drawing on a winning talent (From Barry And District News)

Drawing on a winning talent

BARRY tattooist Lee Clements picked up a trio of trophies at a tattoo convention in Newport.

The event took place in Newport, with tattooists coming in from all over the UK.

Lee, owner of Chameleon on High Street, came away with two first places in Male Individual and Best in Show, and a second place in Best Tribals.

For the competition Lee was given a set time to create a particular tattoo.

He asked his friend Matthew Tanner - who he knows has "a high tolerance for pain" - to help him with the task.

He tattooed the design on Matthew"s upper leg - it took just over five hours to create, and was done in one sitting.

Lee, aged 28, said: "I was up against some tough competition but I managed to come away with Best in Show."

Lee has also been invited to do some work in America at a tattoo convention next January.

He said: "It is a big honour to be asked, because there is a greater interest in the tattoo business over in America."

Just a few weeks ago New Zealand rugby star Jonah Lomu dropped in to Lee's parlour to have the words "Power Within" tattooed on his back, following a recommendation by fellow club player Lee Thomas, from Barry.

Tattooist Lee added: "It"s brilliant getting recommendations like this, because the tattoo business is all about word of mouth.

"Over the past few years I have had people from out of Barry coming in because they have seen and liked my work so much."

(BLOB) Chameleon has recently taken on a new body piercer, Sian, who works every Friday and Saturday.