A three-year-old girl is set to become the world’s youngest tattoo artist, after her dad taught her how to use a permanent tattoo machine. Ruby Dickinson has been receiving lessons from her dad Blane after she gets home from nursery, and he says that she is just weeks away from being good enough to ink her favourite design, a spider, on to his right leg.

“It’ll be a proud and very special moment for me and for her,” the Daily Star quoted Blane, who is a tattooist, as saying. “She really loves it and I’m pleased I can teach her the skills,” he said. Blane, 36, who runs tattoo studio Inkaholics Anonymous in Penmaenmawr, Conwy, is importing a miniature tattoo machine from the US specially designed for children’s hands.

“I’m under no illusions that she’ll do a Van Gogh – after all, she’s only three,” he said. “But I’ve got 70percent of my body covered in tattoos already and it’ll only be the size of a 2p piece, so I’m not too worried she’ll make a mess,” he stated.

Ruby is due to take the record from Emilie Darrigade, from Canada, who tattooed part of a butterfly on to her dad’s arm when she was five.

“I’m not a pushy parent but she’s been in a tattooing environment since she was born. It’s a part of her life. She comes to the studio and she gives my customers advice,” Blane said.

“This will set her off on a fantastic career and a tattoo machine is a lot cheaper than university fees,” he added.