Not so long ago, someone sporting a tattoo was likely either a sailor, a convict, or a Maori, and almost certainly male. But times have changed and a scan of the flesh on view across City gyms suggests that having a small “tat” is verging on normality among money men and women alike.

In general these are discreet black-and-white, abstract affairs that stay well hidden under normal clothing - as a piece of self-expression they are about as interesting as a Porsche 911. If you really want pointers on installing a statement on your skin, then the place to visit is London's annual tattoo convention - the biggest event of its type in Europe - attracting an incredible 20,000 visitors over three days. Here musclebound biker types jostle with emo-teens and head-shaven and booted couples. The air hummed with the buzzing of dozens of needle machines as punters undertook on-the-spot tattooing in full public view. But the natives were not only extremely friendly but tremendously excited by the whole event.