Some aunties take their nieces out for lunch, others might spoil their younger relative with a shopping spree.

But not Emma Neaves.

She takes her 20-year-old niece to tattoo parlours.

They share the excitement and the pain of the needle and fuel their addictions while they bond over body art.

In fact when Emma got married, her niece Georgie Sault designed a tattoo to mark the occasion.

“I have a hot air balloon that Georgie drew for me …  me and my husband got engaged in an hot air balloon,’’ Emma explained.

“When we got married we threw away keys so she drew that too.”

Emma’s family ties feature heavily in her body art.

“I have my family initials … also have my dogs, lots of little stories, everything is a story.”

Her favourite changes regularly – each time she gets a new piece.

“There’s not one favourite. It tends to be when I get it, that’s my favourite until I get another idea. Mine are both sweet and quite morbid, that’s just my personality.”

Both women first got tattoos at the age of 18.

Emma’s was a big piece across her back as she “went all out”.

Georgie was more reserved with lyrics to her favourite song.

Their styles are reflective of their individuality and at the same time bond them for life.

“Me and Emma enjoy going on tattoo dates. We will go to each other’s tattoo sessions, sit there and keep each other company.”

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