Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner 'issue warning' to artist who Photoshopped them to look battered and bruised

Shocking images of Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner with black eyes and split lips went viral on Tuesday as part of a campaign to stop violence against women.

The images, though, were used and Photoshopped without the permission of the E! reality stars, TMZ claimed on Tuesday evening.

The website reported that neither Kim nor Kendall had signed off on their likenesses being used and that no-one had contacted them about being part of the initiative.

TMZ said that attorneys for the Keeping Up With The Kardashians stars 'are reaching out to the artist responsible to issue a warning.'

It turns out that the images used by artist and activist, aleXsandro Palombo, for the No Women is Immune from Domestic Violence project are from commercially-available paparazzi shots.

The image of Kim that's used was taken at the Valentino fashion show in Paris in 2014.

Palombo decided to use his skills to depict some top celebrities as battered victims as a way of marking the International Day for Elimination of Violence on November 25.

He said the goal was to persuade all victims of abuse to break their silence and he sought to raise awareness that all women can be subject to abuse and that no one is immune, even if you seemingly live a fairytale life in public.

TMZ said while it's believed Kim and Kendall back the anti-violence cause, they also believe they should have the right to choose whether or not their images and likenesses, which are worth a lot of money, are used.

In addition to Kim and Kendall, other images used by Palombo include pics of Madonna, Miley Cyrus, Angelina Jolie, Emma Watson, Kristen Stewart and Gwyneth Paltrow.