Behold: the #c4newspopup temporary tattoo video

Pardeep Dhillon looked over nervously.

“It’ll fade away, right?” he asked, as the needle hovered over his freshly-shaven leg, now bearing the imprint of a stencil of the #c4newspopup logo.

Tattoo artist Tarren Malham – who also happens to be Pardeep’s girlfriend (and now you know how she persuaded him to get the tattoo) – reassured him it would fade within a week because of the thin ink she was using. Then, her needle humming, she began.

Ruby Lous doesn’t normally offer temporary tattoos, but Tarren did a version of one for Channel 4 News as a favour.

We’re sure you’ll agree Pardeep’s tattoo looks smashing. We’re not sure he is as convinced, but at least he doesn’t have long to worry about it.

However, as well as brightening up his shin and giving us some excellent visuals for our #c4newspopup show on Tuesday, Tarren’s story is one which chimes with those initial hints of recovery Channel 4 News is trying to check out as part of a week-long journey around the country (get in touch to tell us your story – #c4newspopup on Twitter).

I wanted to bring more of a friendly aspect to tattooing rather than ‘sit in that chair, I’m going to hurt you’. Tarren Malham

Tarren set up her tattoo studio, Ruby Lous, in 2011. She chose to come to Basepoint Business Centre in Swindon because it offers flexible terms, which allow start-ups to see how it goes before committing to onerous lease terms.

Tarren acknowledges it was brave to set up her own studio in the midst of a recession, but says it felt right.

“I had been at my previous studio for five years and I just wanted to go my own way, bring more of a friendly aspect to tattooing rather than ‘sit in that chair, I’m going to hurt you'”, she told us.

Lyn Chapman, who runs the Swindon centre, said the one positive of difficult economic times meant that sometimes people were pushed to try out their dreams because other avenues were closed for them.

“Sometimes, it can give people the chance to start the business they have always wanted to start, but I do think people put more research into it before they commit,” she said.

For Tarren, her gamble is paying off. The studio is one of the busiest in Swindon, doing between five and 20 tattoos a week. And she feels that there are some glimmers of hope in the economy.

“I think I am feeling more positive,” she said. “Luckily for me, this industry wasn’t badly affected but I know from friends and family that things could be starting to recover.”

Do you think things are getting better? Tweet us on #c4newspopup. We’ll be in Middlesbrough on Wednesday, the Lakes on Thursday and Edinburgh on Friday and we want to hear from you.