PAUL CALLABY: Gary, how long have you been tattooing?

GARY DAWES: I'm 37 and I have been tattooing professionally for about six years. Before that I was a coal miner, which I did for tens years. I've always been into drawing. My dad was an artist so when I left the pits I thought "what can I do? I can draw." My uncle had tattoos which he did himself. He was a biker so I've always been around bikes and the lifestyle which included tattoos. Apart from my uncle I'm the only member of my family who's into tattoos though.

PC: What do you do outside of tattooing?

GD: My kids and my dogs are important to me. I've also just got back into biking. I've gone around in a camper van for years, travelling with the kids to give them times to remember for the rest of their lives but now I'm back into bikes!