A SOUTH Lakeland tattooist has reached the final of a television competition to find the best body artist in the country.


Luke Sayer, from Grange-over-Sands, is one of the remaining six competing in E4’s Tattoo Artist of the Year, where participants showcase their talents in different inking challenges.


For 24-year-old Luke, who works at Samsara Custom Tattoo in Kendal, the show has been ‘an amazing experience.’ 

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“I never expected to be on the show. Everyone comes in to compete with different skills, and it’s an amazing feeling to be a part of it” he said. 
Judged by Jay Hutton and Rose Hardy, each episode of the six-part show consists of two different challenge briefs, with the first based around a theme and the second around a style of tattooing.

It can be Japanese, traditional, realism, surrealism or watercolour.

Each week an artist is eliminated until one is crowned Tattoo Artist of the Year. 


Luke, who specialises in black and grey realistic images, is working through a backlog of appointments, which should keep him busy until July.


Having recently tattooed reality TV star Gaz Beadle from Geordie Shore, one of Luke’s current projects is a body suit for Chris Miller, from Liverpool, who travels across the world to do conventions with him.


“What draws me into doing a tattoo is the idea and how it works as an image. If I can use my own vision, that’s ideal for me,” said Luke. “I think there are more talented people than me, but I think hard work might be better than talent. I have put everything into tattooing, my whole life. It’s nice to see it finally pay off.”


The former Kendal College student added: “As far as I can remember I have always wanted to be a tattoo artist. I did art throughout school and college. It seemed like the right thing for me.” 


For Luke it is not difficult to think about his most memorable moment on the show so far. 


“In the latest episode one of the clients asked me to do a steak pasty on their leg. I thought it was fitting, because I work above Gregg’s,” he said.


The show is on Tuesdays at 9pm.