A major exhibition looking at the history of British tattoo art has finally opened to the public, after waiting four months during lockdown.

Tattoo: British Tattoo Art Revealed, was installed at the Historic Dockyard Chatham in March and was ready to open, but a week before the opening date, the country - and the attraction - went into lockdown.

Now, finally, the display, which opened virtually while the site was closed, it is open to visitors in the No.1 Smithery gallery, after the dockyard itself reopened.

Showcasing the work of major tattoo artists from George Burchett, via the Bristol Tattoo Club, to Alex Binnie and Lal Hardy this is the largest gathering of real objects and original tattoo artwork ever assembled in the United Kingdom. The exhibition features items from three of the most important private collections of tattoo material in Britain, belonging to Willy Robinson, Jimmy Skuse, and Paul ‘Rambo’ Ramsbottom, providing a rare opportunity to display original artwork and artefacts not otherwise on public display.

It also delves into previously unseen private archives that reveal hidden histories, including the true story of Britain’s pioneering female tattoo artist, Jessie Knight.

There is also an innovative installation, the 100 Hands Project, which has been curated by Alice Snape of Things and Ink magazine, is based around 100 silicone arms, each tattooed with an original design by leading tattoo artists working across the UK.

It is estimated that about one in five of the UK population is tattooed and this figure rises to one in three for young adults.

The exhibition explores the history of tattooing in depth and features more than 400 original artworks, photographs and historic artefacts.

Paul Barnard, dockyard assistant chief executive said: “We are delighted to finally open the doors to the fantastic Tattoo: British Tattoo Art Revealed exhibition. The timing for lockdown could not have been worse for this show, it was a matter of days before our official opening. We produced some brilliant digital content supporting the exhibition and bringing it to life during our closure but nothing beats actually visiting it in person.”

“There are long-established connections between seafaring and tattooing and this exhibition gives our visitors the rare opportunity to explore these links through some exceptional exhibits and displays. We hope many people are able enjoy it with us safely in Chatham this summer.”

Curated by the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, an independent museum based in Falmouth, the exhibition has also been guest curated by Dr Matt Lodder, lecturer in Contemporary Art History and Director of American Studies at the University of Essex, and supported by co-curators Stuart Slade and Derryth Ridge of National Maritime Museum Cornwall and Alice Snape of Things and Ink magazine.

Dr Lodder said: “In this exhibition, we have finally been able to match the most current and cutting-edge research on British tattoo history – which challenges all the most deeply-held perceptions about the practice, its origins, its extent, and its reception – with unparalleled access to the true custodians of tattooing’s history: the artists and their families who have cared for these objects and their stories over decades. Tattooing is a magical, romantic, exciting and often-misunderstood art-form, and we hope that our exhibition will communicate some of that magic to visitors.”

It is open until September. Visits to the Dockyard need to be booked online in advance. Book and find out more at thedockyard.co.uk

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