Years ago, Don McClintock told his newly tattooed son he was an "idiot" and was "marked for life". Now the 56-year-old Christchurch joiner is eating his words, as he now sports a few tattoos of his own – a tattoo body suit, in fact. Mr McClintock was one of about 100 people who took part in the inaugural Southland Tattoo and Piercing Show on Saturday in Invercargill.

Mr McClintock said he decided to get his first tattoos, his daughters' names, in 2001, when he was 46. It helped that tattoo artist Steve Johnson, of City of Ink in Christchurch, was a great mate, he said.

The body suit took six years to complete. Tattoos were addictive and it was after his third inking he realised he was hooked, he said. "After your third one (tattoo), you're stuffed, you just keep going," he said.

Saturday's show was one of many he had entered, and his prize haul, including first placings in the male front, male side, and unisex full body categories, and second placings in the male back and male large leg sections, made it worthwhile, he said.

He has also competed in Las Vegas, Sydney and Brisbane. His body artwork always attracted comments, but most people reacted positively, he said. People also often asked to have photographs taken with him.

Tattoo show committee member Sheree Carnie said the show was a success and entrants had come from all over the world. It was hoped the event would become an annual fixture. The overall prize, awarded to the artist who had the most placings on the day, went to Visual Intelligence of Dunedin.