Anything goes as long as it's eight letters in the world of knuckle tattoos - from inking a tribute to cake to announcing you are 'God's gift.'

Photographer Edward Bishop has taken images of inked hands in London and Brighton to show how people have moved away from the traditional 'love hate' to become more creative.

Edward, from London, started snapping the attention-grabbing ink back in 2009 as it has gradually gained more popularity over the years.

Photographer Edward Bishop took images of tattooed hands in London and Brighton to show the popularity that tattooed knuckles have gained. One man used his skin for a play on words with knuckle 'sandwich'

Photographer Edward Bishop took images of tattooed hands in London and Brighton to show the popularity that tattooed knuckles have gained. One man used his skin for a play on words with knuckle 'sandwich'

One man claimed he was a 'true gent' through his tattoo with simple black ink to spell out his message

One man claimed he was a 'true gent' through his tattoo with simple black ink to spell out his message

Edward wrote on his website: 'The knuckles used to be one of the last places a die-hard tattoo aficionado had left available for tattooing. 

'Hard to hide, these tattoos were nicknamed "career killers" or "jobstoppers".

'More recently, they have become more and more popular as an ideal medium for self-expression. 

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'With word combinations being relatively limited and ten knuckles at most, it is the skilful use of font and colour by the tattoo artist that creates a unique knuckle tattoo.'

Edward has captured unusual combinations across the knuckles from 'sandwich' and 'love cake' to inspirational mottoes such as 'keep hope.' 

This man's inspirational motto is 'keep hope.' Edward was interested in the tattoos because 'the knuckles used to be one of the last places a die-hard tattoo aficionado had left available for tattooing'

This man's inspirational motto is 'keep hope.' Edward was interested in the tattoos because 'the knuckles used to be one of the last places a die-hard tattoo aficionado had left available for tattooing'

Some ink lovers even appear to pay tribute to their home county, like one man with 'Somerset' emblazoned across his knuckles 

Some ink lovers even appear to pay tribute to their home county, like one man with 'Somerset' emblazoned across his knuckles 

One woman declares her love for cake through her tattoo and added a small heart-shaped locket on her finger . The trend for knuckle art is now becoming more widespread, according to Edward

One woman declares her love for cake through her tattoo and added a small heart-shaped locket on her finger . The trend for knuckle art is now becoming more widespread, according to Edward

Photographer Edward said previously these 'tattoos were nicknamed "career killers" or "jobstoppers". One woman is proud of her roots and has 'self-made' across her knuckles

Photographer Edward said previously these 'tattoos were nicknamed "career killers" or "jobstoppers". One woman is proud of her roots and has 'self-made' across her knuckles

Some ink lovers even appear to pay tribute to their home county, like one man with 'Somerset' emblazoned across his knuckles.

The tattoos are used to express a variety of sentiments and all are extremely personal.

One woman displays her pessimistic values through the word 'nihilist' over her hands while some go for rock and roll cliches like 'live fast.' 

One woman displays her pessimistic values through the word 'nihilist' over her hands and also has plenty of colourful ink up her arms

One woman displays her pessimistic values through the word 'nihilist' over her hands and also has plenty of colourful ink up her arms

Some choose traditional tattoos, the rock and roll cliche is used A man has 'hold fast' across his hands, a design many sailors used to sport as they believed it would help them hold onto the rigging

Some choose traditional tattoos, left the rock and roll cliche is used and, right, another has 'hold fast' across his hands, a design many sailors used to sport as they believed it would help them hold onto the rigging

Meanwhile another has 'hold fast' across his hands, a design many sailors used to sport as they believed it would help them hold onto the rigging.

Edward wrote on his website that it was his 'fascination with the spectrum of expression attainable on a small, yet conspicuous canvas' which kick-started the project.

And many of the messages printed across knuckles come across as more cryptic.

One reads 'farewell' and may have been inked as a mark of remembrance for a loved one while another has inked 'overcome' which most likely represents a difficult time they have come through in life. 

This woman unveils part of her personality by declaring herself a 'good girl'. All of the designs are personal

This woman unveils part of her personality by declaring herself a 'good girl'. All of the designs are personal

This woman calls herself a song bird, with one of the letters filled in to resemble a diamond. Edward wrote on his website that it was the 'fascination with the spectrum of expression attainable on a small, yet conspicuous canvas' which started the project

This woman calls herself a song bird, with one of the letters filled in to resemble a diamond. Edward wrote on his website that it was the 'fascination with the spectrum of expression attainable on a small, yet conspicuous canvas' which started the project

Edward said: 'With word combinations being relatively limited and ten knuckles at most, it is the skillful use of font and colour by the tattoo artist that creates a unique knuckle tattoo.' One man has inked 'overcome' which probably represents a difficult time in his life

Edward said: 'With word combinations being relatively limited and ten knuckles at most, it is the skillful use of font and colour by the tattoo artist that creates a unique knuckle tattoo.' One man has inked 'overcome' which probably represents a difficult time in his life

Some share jokey phrases like 'lady muck' - a colloquial term for a haughty or socially pretentious woman - and 'buff ting' -  slang for someone attractive - in their elaborate designs, while others use the space for a romantic gesture.

One man has 'true love' across his hands while a woman has 'Reuben' with love hearts either side for her partner.

Other inkings which describe the person's attributes or personality include 'good girl', 'true gent' and 'song bird'. Other messages, such as 'mountain, are more cryptic.

Most of the subjects appear to be heavily-tattooed with many showing off full sleeve designs in the photographs. 

Edward released a self-published book in 2014 entitled Knuckles showcasing the ornate artwork and continues to photograph them on his website.

Many have been inked as a mark of remembrance for a loved one. This design reads 'farewell' and the rest of the hands and arms are completely covered

Many have been inked as a mark of remembrance for a loved one. This design reads 'farewell' and the rest of the hands and arms are completely covered

While others share jokey phrases like 'buff ting' in their elaborate designs, a slang term for someone attractive

While others share jokey phrases like 'buff ting' in their elaborate designs, a slang term for someone attractive

many of the messages printed across knuckles come across as more cryptic. A woman has 'mountain' tattooed over her hand

many of the messages printed across knuckles come across as more cryptic. A woman has 'mountain' tattooed over her hand

One has 'lady muck' across her knuckles, a colloquial term for a haughty or socially pretentious woman

One has 'lady muck' across her knuckles, a colloquial term for a haughty or socially pretentious woman

Some use the space for romantic intentions, one person has 'true love' across their hands 

Some use the space for romantic intentions, one person has 'true love' across their hands 

A woman pays tribute to her partner Reuben with his name spelled out in bold type with love hearts either side

A woman pays tribute to her partner Reuben with his name spelled out in bold type with love hearts either side

One man claimed he was 'God's gift' through his rather bold and confident tattoo

One man claimed he was 'God's gift' through his rather bold and confident tattoo

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