Is that Cheryl Cole's tattooed back (and bum)?

If so, it's quite something. The tattoo, that is…

Ouch… that’s gotta hurt.

Speculation is rife on the internet that an image doing the rounds of a tattooed derrière may actually be that of one Cheryl Cole.

It comes after LA-based tattoo artist Nikko Hurtado posted to Instagram an 'in-progress' shot of a striking piece he was 'updating and working on' today, for an unnamed but 'tough as nails' client.

Exhibit A: The picture posted by Mr Hurtado:

(Picture: Nikko Hurtado/Instagram)

Exhibit B: Ms Cole, who just happens to be in LA right now, posted on her Twitter feed a now-deleted shot of her posing alongside the talented inkmeister.

(Picture: @CherylCole/Twitter)

Leading the internet to put two and two together and come up with "OMG LOOK AT CHERYL'S ASS TATTOO!"

Nice discreet little tattoo for Cheryl C pic.twitter.com/AjVUAC0XGZ

— Grace Dent (@gracedent) August 24, 2013

Exhibit C: You might delete your twitpics Cheryl, but there's no denying the similarities between the Instagrammed tatpic (hey, new word!) and what was on show during your performance with Girls Aloud in February.

At the time she told reporters the elaborate design had involved her sitting for 15 hours.

So, what do we think of the ink?