Sydney - Grevilleas, strelitzias, banksias and wild lilies: flowers you would find in a well-kept Sydney garden.

They also feature on the considerable hide of Australia's Geoff Ostling, a retired history teacher who is seeking immortality for his tattooed body.

When his time comes, Ostling, 65, wants his skin hung in the National Gallery in Canberra.

Unlike many, Ostling didn't pop into a tattoo parlour when the fancy took him. All his graphics are by Canberra artist and needle-man eX de Medici. All are of Australian flowers.

He even has roses in his armpits. iItis so they will always smell of roses, i he joked.

Ostling genuinely is a walking work of art. After death, he'd like his 15-year project to remain on display.