AN apprentice tattooist swapped skin for canvas to secure first prize in an art competition which has led to his first solo exhibition.

Steven Haury was crowned People’s Choice winner at the St Helens Open Art competition after picking up the the most votes from visitors to The World of Glass.

The 26-year-old from Sutton will now stage his first exhibition at the Chalon Way venue.

An IT administrator by trade, each weekend Steven ditches his computer keyboard and steps into the tattoo parlour where his passion lies.

He explained how he first got started: “It was after getting my first tattoo three years ago I started to become serious about art. I was thinking I could do this.”

Steven who arms are covered in elaborate artwork featuring mainly portraits and Japanese themes described the inspiration behind his art: “I get most enjoyment from portraits as I find it more challenging than other areas yet it is the area I’m most comfortable in.

“Because I work in a tattoo studio there is no room for error. You can’t go over any incorrect areas and for this reason I typically work in coloured pencil and watercolours rather than oil or acrylic where you can correct as much as you like.

“This is also why I prefer portraits over any other area.

“The finished picture will either look like the person or not.”

He said that portraits would be the main feature of his exhibition.