A TATTOO artist from Potters Bar has won a prestigious six-hour “duel” at a world famous convention.

Michael Rose, 33, beat defending champion Paul Naylor, from Northwich, with his colour portrait of a classic Second World War sailor pin-up girl at the second Liverpool Tattoo Convention.

The two artists went head-to-head at the Student Guild City Centre at noon on June 7 to decide who should take away the trophy and who should get gunged in the pirate pool - a tradition at the annual event.

Hundreds of artists from around the world turned up to the convention, which is considered to be one of the premier international events on the tattoo calendar.

Mr Rose said: “Paul was awarded last year’s artist of the year and is a well established artist on the UK scene, so the pressure was really on me to perform at my best.

“But I got my head down and was really happy with the results. I was dreading the pirate pool, but then I heard my name called and a huge roar from the crowd, which felt fantastic.”

The theme of the duel was the Forties, and Mr Naylor came a close second with his black and grey portrait of George Formby, complete with ukulele.

At 6pm, both artists put down their tools and made their way to the stage dressed in swimming trunks and snorkels to prepare for the gunge pool.

Although Mr Naylor was the loser, Mr Rose joined him in the pit “in good sportsmanship”.

To view more of Mr Rose’s work, visit his website at protats.co.uk or contact him at his Potters Bar studio, in The Broadway, Darkes Lane, on 01707 663055.