A tattoo artist has turned to body painting to express his frustration and anger after the Baby P trial.

Sean 'Woody' Wood, who runs Woody's Tattooing & Body Piercing Studio in Octagon Parade, High Wycombe, said he wanted to make a statement about the system which left the child in the care of abusive adults.

He said: “That painting came about because everybody in my shop was saying 'what can we do about it?' It was the frustration of it all, the frustration with the bureaucracy."

Mr Wood had already been talking about making a body painting for customer Hannah Lawrence, 21, a fine art student from Denham Walk, Chalfont St Peter.

When they found themselves talking about the Baby P scandal, they decided to tackle that subject.

Mr Wood said: “I think everyone in the shop at the time could see the frustration and anger with this bureaucracy.

“I can't say things and have people listen, but I can draw them.”

Mr Wood, who is married to Sharron, 38, explained his own son, Thomas, was around the same age as Baby P and bore a strong resemblance to him. He said this only made him feel more angry about the situation.

Miss Lawrence said reaction to the painting had been positive from people who saw it at nearby pub The Greyhound, in High Street, Chalfont St Peter.

She said: “I went to the pub straight after and showed some people and they thought it was brilliant, a really good statement. They thought it was powerful, and they've been really supportive.”

The painting is not permanent, and can be removed with water. Miss Lawrence thought it was a way of making a statement that would make people listen.

She said: “We thought we'd do it in a more creative way that still gets the point across.”

The 17-month-old Baby P died in August 2007 after a long period of abuse, and despite 60 visits from authorities over eight months. Three people will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on December 15 after being convicted of causing or allowing Baby P's death.

Haringey Council has apologised for not doing more to protect the child, and Ed Balls, children's secretary, has ordered an inquiry into its child protection services.

Sharon Shoesmith, chairman of the Haringey Local Safeguarding Children Board said: “We worked hard to support the family– social workers, health visitors, doctors and nurses all saw him and his mother regularly.

“In line with Government guidelines for such circumstances, we immediately set up an independent review into what happened and have acted on every recommendation.”