Justin Bieber has suggested his mum is keeping an eye on him through his new tattoo.

The Never Say Never singer, 19, had an eye tattooed on his forearm, thought to be his 16th inking, and showed it off with a snap on Instagram.

He captioned the photo: "Mums always watching".

Justin's mum Pattie Mallette recently told Parade magazine: "He had his whole childhood where we were just together, and he didn't start his other crazy life until he was a teenager, so we really bonded through just being together.

"I was on government assistance, working two jobs just to try to put food on the table, and really struggling through to make it. I just did whatever I could do to be the best mum I could be."

Questioned about giving her son dating advice, she said: "I think that he values my opinion."