Photographed over the course of three years, Alan Powdrill‘s COVERED is an interesting look at tattoo culture and our perceptions of people with body art.
As tattoos have become increasingly commonplace and mainstream, the old adage “don’t judge a book by its cover” is proven to the fullest by Powdrill’s images of heavily tattooed people covered up—and stripped down.

“They have given me confidence in life since my Crohn’s illness, I will love them in the future like I do now.” – Peter Ramsey, 38, Colchester
“I was 15 and got kicked out of home because of my tattoos and piercings.” – Mo Shahari, 43, London
“I’ll be the cool old guy one day that everyone points at and wants to be.” – Dan Carter, 30, Chingford
“I was 13 when I got my first one, my mum and dad didn’t find out till I was 18.” – Jamal Khan, 24, Birmingham