Tattoo you – with bamboo!

Printed body signs, or tattaws,' were predominantly sported by Polynesians. Tattoos, as they are now known, have long been symbols of things like religion, strength, love or protection.

Historically they served this purpose, but in later years their appearance as a branding for criminals and thugs, and the seediness often associated with back street tattoo parlours, did little to improve their image.

Tattoos have been seen as both a fashion statement or something foolish you did when you were inebriated - they say alcohol numbs the pain, although when reality dawns some blokes probably regret having that woman permanently on their arm!

But in recent years the popularity of tattoos has grown, largely thanks to David Beckham who is as recognised for his statement-making fashion trends as he is for his prowess on the football pitch.

When the footballer and fashion icon unveiled the guardian angel protecting' his back and the artistic skin etchings spelling the names of his family on various areas of his torso, a resurgence in popularity was to be expected.

Body art gives credence to the professional artists who have made it their life's work. Professionals like Keng Timsuwan, left.

Keng's love of art developed from copying comic book heroes as a child. "He had Spiderman all over the house!" laughs his British-born wife, Lauren.

Keng's talent for drawing was discovered when he began sketching at a temple in his native Thailand. The monks encouraged him by arranging some drawing and painting classes and when he was ten they asked him to paint local temples with ornate Thai designs.

Keng was asked to become a Grand Master Monk but his parents wanted him to finish his schooling. He continued his visits and was introduced to the art of bamboo tattooing - a technique using a needle on the end of a 40cm length of bamboo.

The ancient technique involves a needle strapped on to a length of bamboo and pushed in and out of the skin by hand. It is said to be slower but less painful and less likely to draw blood than the modern machine tattoo method.

Machine tattooing involves a machine pushing a needle in and out of the skin very quickly, like a sewing machine.

Keng learned the art from a monk who apparently taught the tattooist responsible for Hollywood star Angelina Jolie's body art.

"He was 15 when he started learning it but they practice and practice on pig skin and fruit. But he told me every time he did a tattoo he would prey that he didn't hurt people!" says Lauren.

Keng started out tattooing soldiers to give them strength and protect them in combat. He wanted to be a tattooist but he knew pursuing it as a profession would be against his family's wishes.

"They wanted him to be a doctor so he went to medical school but in Thailand when the father passes away the children are free to do what they want. When his father died he quit medicine to return to the temple to do tattooing," explains Lauren.

Keen to pursue his art, Keng went to work on Koh Phi Phi, a Thai island popular with tourists. Lauren, a dive instructor, had gone to the island shortly after the 2004 South Asian tsunami as a volunteer to help in the aftermath.

She had spotted Keng walking past where she was working and discovered he was keen to learn English to speak to her!

They lived together for a year on the island before marrying in a traditional Buddhist ceremony in Keng's home town of Nakhon Suwan.

Keng continued tattooing but Lauren was keen for him to sample life in Britain where they eventually hope to raise family. "I felt it was important for him to come to my country to appreciate a different culture and realise where I come from," she says.

The couple came to Britain in May and Keng is now learning English to communicate with customers at Bamboo Rooms, the shop they have set up in Shipley, not far from Guiseley where Lauren grew up.

Yorkshire may be different to his country but Keng's huge hand-painted wall mural, depicting a dragon, Koi Karp and flowers, is a reminder of home.

Is there a demand for tattooing in Bradford? "I think it's big at the moment," says Lauren. "In the past people would not have one because it was considered that it wasn't the thing to do, the perception was that it was seedy but now you have big superstars with tattoos like David Beckham and Angelina Jolie. People see a superstar with it and think they would like one."

Lauren has six tattoos. She was 18 when she had her first one, a seahorse on her back. "I suppose I wanted to be a rebel and be cool," she laughs.

She bears a butterfly on her chest, her husband's name in Thai on her arm, some floral work on her back and a tiny flower on her toe. The base cleft on her ear is a symbol she shares with her musically-minded pals.

I squirm when she talks about Keng cosmetically tattooing her eyeline. "You wake up and your make up is done!" she says. What is it they say - no pain no gain! Lauren says Keng is covered from head to foot. Only his bottom is bare from tattoos!

Says Keng: "I really like doing it and I think people like my designs. I can draw anything they want. I enjoy drawing and I enjoy meeting people."

Some of Keng's clients travel from all over the country. Matt Guin, a 20-year-old insurance worker from London, booked a day with Keng last November to have his first tattoo, based on a traditional Polynesian design. It took two-and-a-half hours to have the design done on his leg.

"It's an amazing method and he's a lovely guy," says Matt. "I didn't go in blind. I did a lot of research and watched documentaries. I made sure it was what I wanted."

Carl Heaton, from Wrose, also prefers traditional designs. He was 29 when he had his first tattoo. Now he has several, including a rather artistic birth date tattoo which Carl came up with the design for. The most excruciating experience, he says, was the dragon on his calf muscle. "That hurt, as it went into the crease behind my knee," he says.

Far from being put off, Carl went on to have a tiger on his arm and a bird on his chest, tattooed using the usual machine method. Carl worked with Keng to create a background tattoo linking the bird and tiger. "If anyone had said you will have a half sleeve' (half is arm is tattooed) I'd have said I'd never have that done but it's addictive!" laughs Carl.

It was his first experience of the bamboo technique. "It is a weird pain but very addictive," says Carl.

Sandy Cochrane, a 25-year-old collections officer from Shipley, had her first tattoo aged 18. "I had to convince my mum and she came with me."

Sandy's first tattoo was a Seikh symbol; a circle with a sword. She worked with Keng on her latest tattoo, a beautiful Japanese tiger down her back.

"It's something I've had in mind for the past few years but I wanted to make sure I had the right place and design in mind," she says. It took 10 hours over two days to complete. I ask how the bamboo technique compared to her previous experience with an electric needle. "It's completely different. It is a lot less painful and mine healed within two or three days," she says. "I just love them, when they're done tastefully they look so pretty."

For more information visit www.bambootattoo.co.uk