A sculpture, created by Asylum, swims alongside the Thames in Mother's new campaign for TV show London Ink

Massive tattooed figures have recently invaded London, as part of a new ambient ad campaign by Mother. The sculptures, which have currently taken up residence by Tower Bridge and also at Victoria Station, form part of a campaign for new Discovery Real Time reality show London Ink.

A close-up of the swimmer's tat

The show, a UK version of the successful US show Miami Ink, is based around a tattoo parlour run by Louis Molloy, who has already had a taste of fame with his ink work for David Beckham and Kate Moss. Beginning this Sunday, it will follow the usual reality TV drill, featuring the trials and tribulations of daily life in the shop, as well as delving into the personal stories of the customers.

The sculptures' tattoos, which have been designed by Molloy, feature classic tattoo iconography, with a London twist: the swimmer has a classic Japanese Carp shown on a bed of chips and newspaper with a Japanese wave-style splash of vinegar on top, while the girl at Victoria Station has a tattoo of a "glorious pigeon", a stylised pigeon made to look like a classic "war eagle" tattoo, complete with tattered feathers and a gimpy foot.

Alongside the sculptures will be print, TV and cinema ads, as well as stencilling on London's streets, so "the city itself will get tattooed". There is also a making-of film released on YouTube, showing the placement of the swimmer at Tower Bridge, which can be watched below.

Watch the swimmer sculpture being installed