The art of body modification is being explored in an exhibition by author and tattooist Joolz Denby.

Cartwright Hall in Bradford hosts workshops explaining the art of tattooing, piercing, corseting and cosmetic surgery from Saturday, August 30.

Visitors will be greeted by a backdrop of images and human-sized sculptures illustrating some of the most extreme cases at the Body Carnival exhibition.

Among the works on display are images taken by photographers Ashley and Ian Beesley, as well as a sculpture of ‘The Great Omi’, a legendary tattooed man called Horace Ridley, by Anthony Bennett.

Miss Denby, 53, of Bradford, who writes a blog for the Telegraph & Argus website, telegraphandargus.co.uk, presents the art of tattooing in a mocked-up tattoo studio.

She will talk about the history of tattooing. Other highlights include a corseting session when visitors will be fitted into a tightly-laced corset. There will be a wall of mirrors for people to reflect on their own body modifications and a lecture by Professor David Sharpe and Heather Irvine of the Yorkshire Clinic about cosmetic surgery procedures.

Joolz said: “I got involved because I’ve been involved in the world of body modification for 30 years as an academic and also as a working tattooist.”

When she is not writing, she is providing tattoos for customers from across the world.

She said: “Tattooing is now the most successful form of contemporary art in the UK and America and it is increasing across the rest of Europe.

“It’s a multi-million pound industry as you can see from celebrities like David Beckham.”

The workshops begin with corsets on Friday, September 26, the tattooing on Friday, October 17, and cosmetic procedures on Friday, November 14.

For details, call Cartwright Hall on (01274) 432711.