Eric saves his skin - for posterity

Over the next year 43-year-old Eric Vinten's body will be totally covered by fine-art tattoos.

When he dies he wants the artwork to be stripped, treated and admired as an original masterpiece.

He hopes to auction his bodywork via the Internet to the highest bidder - who will pay a deposit now and the remainder on collection of the macabre canvas.

He will also be expected to protect his investment by insuring Eric's body against fire, accident and amputation.

The work will be done by internationally known tattoo artist Jason Williams, from the Black Pearl gallery in London Road, who is delighted his work will be immortalised.

"Auctioning body tattoos has been done in the States," said 30-year-old Jason who works in the family business established 40 years ago by his father Vincent and Uncle Owen.

"Over the last few years tattoos have become accepted and the thuggish bit has been taken out of it. Today it is about good artwork and a personal thing."

Jason was chosen for the venture after Eric had tried all over the country for a good tattooist.

Eric's total body coverage will consist of fantasy scenes which will tell a story as the eye moves around his body. It will be made up of ideas and drawings chosen by him with an added touch of individualism from Jason.

"It will be a complete fantasy theme," said Eric, "featuring the forces of good and evil. It will also be personalised because I will have faces of my daughters incorporated into the design on my chest."

Three months into the work, Eric, from Sidley, has weekly sessions to add and/or tone more tattoos. It will probably take a another year to complete.

When it is finished he will try and sell the work for use after his death.

"It would be a waste for all the artwork to be buried with me," he said, "when someone, somewhere could get pleasure from it."

Father of four, Eric's fascination with tattoos began over 20 years ago, when he had a rather clumsy bird of prey etched on to his arm, which will be covered by the new artwork.

"Twenty-years ago tattooing was not the art form it is now."

Jason added he was sure the artwork would sell itself. "It is very rare. There will not be many other people in the world doing this."

Once finished and in the intervening years Eric hopes to enter national competitions and exhibitions.

Asked whether it hurt, Eric said: "There is a lot of gain for not so much pain. It is a personal achievement."

"It is working on a different form of canvas," said Jason. "People rave about good artists who use an ordinary brush. A tattoo artist has to use a tattoo gun, which weighs up to five pounds and vibrates all the time on to moving skin - not that easy when you are doing fine lines and delicate drawings."

Jason, who is passionate about his work and has built up a strong reputation nationally and abroad, will sign his work.

There is already a Belgian with a tattooed chest bearing the words "by Jason Williams, Bexhill on Sea".

"I get as much pleasure from doing the work as I hope my customers get from the tattoo," he added.

"It is a way to be remembered not just for me but for the artist and his professionalism," said Eric.