Can you describe your finished tattoo? 

'In total there was four sessions. Each session lasted slightly different amounts of time. Every session had a different feeling, I think obviously because there were different parts of the body - or different parts of the back - that was being tattooed, it was just different.

The response I was getting from other people on each stage was amazing, saying how fine the work is, and the detail and stuff. I've got to admit it was quite frustrating, it still is quite frustrating, not to be able to spin your head round completely and see it, but it's nice to know it's still there.

The second session, as far as I can remember was a very heavy session, because Dave wanted to get a lot of the work done. He'd done the outline of Christ in the first session, and the shadow across the back, which took ages to do the shadow. The second session was the actual detail of Christ, you know, all his body, his hair and I can remember Dave was panicking, kept panicking about doing his hair, so he done the whole piece, apart from his hair. It was very intense work, he worked very, very fast. There wasn't a lot of talking actually, on that session, because usually me and Dave have a good chat while he's tattooing me, but I can remember the second session, it was quite a quiet session, it was just Christian, the photographer going around, taking a few pictures. I think that was the hardest session for Dave, he knew he had to get a lot done, so, and he finally finished off doing the hair.

Because it was quite a big piece, each day I noticed my back was getting tighter, as if somebody had like a bulldog clip, and it was tightening my skin, that was the only thing I really noticed.

I was getting my partner just to keep piling moisturiser into my back, and it just went from like a stingy, burning sensation and then overnight, midweek, it just stopped, and it was just like, oh, it's fine now, and that was it. It was a bit tender at first.

I'd say probably between seven and ten days after each session to heal, but then obviously after each session, I think we were leaving it sometime two weeks, two - three weeks between each session so I was fully healed by the time the next lot was going on, so, it was good.

It's a very important part of my life. I know some people say "oh, it's only a tattoo", but to me, it's something I always wanted doing. I wanted this back piece for years, but I never knew what I wanted, I never knew that I'd ever get the chance to get it done, and it's lovely. And having Christ on my back, I love it, I feel very safe.

I'm still growing into the tattoo. I know that sounds really strange, but because it's something new on my body, I'm still getting used to it. It's as if I'm growing with the tattoo now.

It's got wonderful memories, really wonderful memories. When I do see it in the mirror now, those memories just flood back, they really do. If I sit and look at the pictures, it just all comes back, and I can guarantee that I'll walk away with a smile on my face, even if I'm feeling down, I just think about it and it just cheers me up.'

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