You simply need to use the asset helper function in Laravel. (The url helper can also be used in this manner)
<img src="{{ asset('images/arrow.gif') }}" />
For the absolute path, you use public_path instead.
<p>Absolute path: {{ public_path('images/arrow.gif') }}</p>
If you are providing the URL to a public image from a controller (backend) you can use asset as well, or secure_asset if you want HTTPS. eg:
$url = asset('images/arrow.gif'); # http://example.com/assets/images/arrow.gif
$secure_url = secure_asset('images/arrow.gif'); # https://example.com/assets/images/arrow.gif
return $secure_url;
Lastly, if you want to go directly to the image on a given route you can redirect to it:
return \Redirect::to($secure_url);
More Laravel helper functions can be found here