A TATTOO artist from Maldon has become the first person to be able to re-create ancient Middle Eastern designs outside of Jerusalem.

Tattooist Marc Newton who works at Skin Sorcerer in Maldon’s High Street has been given the privilege of being taught designs that have never left the Holy City.

Since working closely with tattooist Wassim Razzouk, he has been given the honour of being the only person outside of the Razzouk family to be allowed to taught the ancient wood block Coptic Christian designs.

This honour has now been extended to allow Mr Newton to use the designs in the UK.

Mr Newton said: “Over the last year, I have been visiting and working at the oldest tattoo studio in the world situated in Jerusalem.

“There is a massive amount of history attached to what they do, tattooing pilgrims from all over the world.

“I’ve been to Jerusalem a few times; last time was the beginning of May and I plan to go back in a couple of weeks.

“Last year, we decided to go and get tattooed at this studio because we heard it was the oldest in the world.

“I didn’t expect him to teach me but we got on really well and it just went from there.

“He thought about it for a while. Being the only person that can do these designs, he was a bit of a one man band and I think he wanted to access more of the world.

“He was waiting for the right person who was well established in their own business, so I just happened to be the right man at the right time.

“One of the conditions is that I’m not allowed to change the sizes of the blocks.

“Some of these blocks are 500 years old, it’s like looking through a museum.

“I have about 15 designs right now. They are quite similar variations of the same thing.

“It’s been quite popular, I’ve done quite a few. I’m waiting until I can get more of the blocks. I understand that taking a traditional religious tattoo from Jerusalem and doing it in Maldon loses something.

“But it’s really nice having people interested in the history and meaning behind it.”