EMMA Seaman has designs on your body.The 26-year-old artist has entered a traditionally male world by opening her own tattoo studio in North Walsham.

EMMA Seaman has designs on your body.

The 26-year-old artist has entered a traditionally male world by opening her own tattoo studio in North Walsham.

Emma hopes her Ruby Tuesday's Electric Tattoo business, at 40a Market Place, will give the art form a more 21st century image, dispel a few myths and prove more attractive to women.

“I am not an intimidating, burly, bearded man for a start! I'm not one of those heavily-tattooed tougher types of women either,” said Emma, who has tattoos on a leg, her back and the top of one arm. She plans to get her other arm tattooed next month.

She said many people saw tattoos as the ultimate form of self-expression and some people became addicted to them. She remembers a client in a parlour where she used to work who took out bank loans to spend four hours every Friday having more tattoos on his body.

“I want people who come here to be comfortable, have a chat about what they want and not feel that they're going to have their teeth pulled or that their ideas aren't good enough,” said Emma.

“Getting a tattoo is a massive commitment. If you get married, you can at least get divorced but if you have a tattoo, you have it for the rest of your life. I'd much rather turn people away than give them a tattoo they didn't really want.”

She first came to Norfolk 14 years ago when her stepfather was serving at RAF Coltishall and the family lived at White Horse Common, on the edge of North Walsham.

Emma, who paints in watercolours and inks, learned the art of tattooing at a studio in Newbury, Berkshire, but has also worked as a receptionist in tattoo parlours, illustrated books and worked for musicians.

Emma believes tattooing is becoming increasingly popular and is frowned on less often by certain sections of society.