Sean Dawson for Salon International

Sunday 13th October

It's a busy year in the world of hairdressing! Today I was working for Sean Dawson from the Hob Academy in Camden. He was presenting shows at the Hairdressers Journal Stage at Salon International at the Excel centre. I had to be at the academy for 7am where we got the 5 models ready before getting a taxi to the venue at 9:30, so time was quite tight. The collection was inspired by David Bowie, so I got to use some colour which made a nice change. I used a different matte bright eyeshadow on each girl, creating a blown out eye on the top and bottom. I used Face and Body foundation for a natural looking skin, Fascinating eye kohl inside the eye, and Endless Play mascara on the top and bottom lashes. To keep the look modern I just contoured and highlighted the cheeks with Taupe blusher and Pearl Cream Colour Base, and applied lip conditioner to the lips. All products by Mac. This kept the colour and emphasis just on the eyes. The brows were bleached to give it that Bowie edge. 

All Saints

Wednesday 9th- Friday 11th October

A few more days shooting e-commerce for All Saints at their warehouse in kent. The make-up is very simple and natural-Face and Body foundation, concealer where needed, Blot Powder, Taupe blusher to contour the cheeks with Well Dressed on the apples of the cheeks. For the lips I pressed on Hug Me lipstick with my finger so there are no hard edges. All products by Mac. Hair is just simply straightened and spritzed with some shine spray and hairspray to control fly aways.

Wella Trend Vision

Monday 7th October

That time of year again! Back working with the super talented Hob Academy team in Camden. They were presenting their take on the Urban Native Wella Professionals trend for Spring/Summer 2014 in a very impressive catwalk show. I had 6 models to make-up throughout the course of the day. It normally turns out to be a little stressful, as the hair obviously has to be done first, the models have to go for several rehearsals, we have to get to the location, have dinner etc etc, so before you know it there isn't much time left and you wonder if/ how you are going to get everyone done. But it all works out in the end somehow and the models looked amazing, with gorgeous clothes to complete the look. For the make-up I used all products by Mac- Groundwork paint pot on the eyes as a base with Haux, Embark and Swiss Chocolate eyeshadows. Costa Chic eye kohl was used inside and under the eyes, and I used a little Reflects Gold in the centre of the lid to bring out the gold in the clothes.  Extended Play mascara on the top and bottom lashes, and Lingering or Spiked brow pencils for the brows with some of the eyeshadows through them also. Cheeks were contoured with Taupe blusher and highlighted with Pearl or Hush Cream Colour Base, and I used Fleshpot lipstick on the lips. These guys really are something else when it comes to hairdressing!!! Job well done I say!

Harpers Bazaar online

Friday 4th October

Unfortunately I can't tell you anything about this until it's published. Watch this space.......

All Saints

Monday 30th September- Thursday 3rd October

Back in January I worked for All Saints shooting ecommerce. They were trying out using actual models rather than dummies that they photoshop out. They have decided to do it again, so they booked me for two weeks work shooting at their warehouse in Kent. Hopefully this is going to be a regular client for me if they decide to shoot this way all the time.  

Percy and Reed East

Thursday 26th September

Today I was working with someone I hadn't assisted before- Jaimee Thomas from Frank agency. Percy And Reed East is a hair salon in East London. They were having a product range launch event, to be held at the Sadlers Wells theatre.  Jaimee had four models to make up from 8am- 9:30, so needed I helping hand. She kept the makeup simple with the focus on a soft smokey eye. At 9:30 we headed to the theatre to finish getting the girls ready- check bodies etc, and then I was free to go! Super easy day! Because there wasn't much time in the morning I didn't get to talk with Jaimee much, so hopefully I'll get to work with her again and get to know her a bit better! 

Toni & Guy magazine

Tuesday 24th September

Back with the lovely Athena Skouvakis again assisting on a shoot for main fashion for Toni & Guy magazine. There were 8 models to get ready, so it was all go at the beginning. But once everyone was made up I got to go home, so it was a nice short day for me! There was about a million hair stylists there, so everyone was ready pretty quickly. The dresses were all amazing Giles dresses, I love his clothes so much, so was a little jealous I wasn't wearing one, ha ha! Make-up wise it was what I have been doing a lot of lately. Very understated, and more about contouring the eyes and face than seeing much makeup. So face and body foundation was used, a neutral matte grey or brown buffed all around the eye, sculpted cheeks, with a bit if colour on the apples, and a cream highlighter on the cheekbones (Athena likes the Topshop one), and a nude lipstick with a bit of warmth on the lips.

Sassoon professionals

Wednesday 18th- Friday 20th September

The lovely Violette from Management Artists was over from Paris to work on this campaign, and when she's in London she likes me to help her out! :oD I had a lovely three days working with the Sassoon team, whom I know from my modelling days, and also from doing make-up for them myself on their shows, so there was a very nice, relaxed and easy going vibe. They are a good laugh! Violette kept the make-up soft and simple so the hair was the focal point. She used face and body foundation, a very soft smoky eye, contoured cheeks, a bit of colour on the apples, and a nude lipstick. We had just two models for the first two days, and one model on the last day so it was very straightforward. And the food there is amazing so love shooting at Spring Studios!

Addidas/ JD commercial

Tuesday 10th September

Back assisting Athena Skouvakis at Holborn Studios for this Addidas/ JD commercial. They didn't get it all done in the first day, so a second day was required. It was super easy as we knew exactly what we were doing already, and it's always a pleasure working with Athena! 

Dr Dray's website

Monday 9th September

Yan, a booker from Jedroot agency gave me a call and asked if I wanted to do a job for Dr Dray's website. Dr Dray has a skin clinic near High Street Kensington, and he was having a shoot to update his website, and to show the clients before and after pictures. I had to be on hand to make sure the hair and skin looked polished for everyone in the video and images. It was a nice easy day, apart from being around needles which make me very squeamish!!! 

Addidas/ JD commercial

Wednesday 28th August 

Up at the crack of dawn to head to Holborn Studios for 7:30am. I was very happy to be asked to assist the super lovely Athena Skouvakis from Frank agency for a Addidas/ JD commercial. She is so friendly and a pleasure to work for. We had a cast of five to do hair and makeup on.  I can't give anything away but the lead guy was amazing, such a great face for doing many different expressions with, I can see him going far in the acting world. The makeup for the two main girls was kept very simple and natural, a bit of a matte brown buffed on the eye, subtly contoured cheeks with a flush of pink on the apples, and a nude lipstick pushed on to the lips with a finger. It was a very long day but lots of fun!

Wella shoot

Thursday 15th August

This time around I was making up faces for the Generation Now hair team at the Wella Studio in London. They had a photo shoot to do with three models. I started off with flawless skin and a red lip for the first look, and added to it for the next two looks to make things easier. They did an amazing job for their first photo shoot!

Religion clothing

Wednesday 31st July

Super cool photographer Martin Zahringer asked if I would do the make up for a Religion look book. So off I went to his studio in London fields to make-up one guy and one female model. It was really simple make-up, very fresh and undone. 

House of Fraser

Monday 29th July

Really wanted to put my glad rags on after assisting Jose Bass from Frank agency on this party themed shoot for House of Fraser.  It was shot at the W Hotel in Leicester square, I have never seen so many mirrored balls in my life! The make-up was perfect party make-up, big smokey eyes or a statement lip! Thanks for having me Jose!!!

KT Tunstall Invisible Empire video

Thursday 18th July

Our first port of call on this very early morning was Bedgebury Forest in Kent. This is mostly where the fighting scenes were going to take place. It made such a lovely change to be shooting outside and it actually be nice warm weather for a change! For the first bit of filming we made KT in to the queen which was fun because she looked so different to how she normally looks. I had got some blue contacts for her and with the white blonde wig she was almost unrecognisable!

The guy who should have been fighting KT in the video ended up being about three hours late, and it turned out that a guy that works looking after the forest and had come to cut down some trees was actually professionally trained in this kind of fighting! Such a coincidence! So the first guy got the chop for being so late and unprofessional and our new guy stepped in. He was great and was giving KT lots of tips on the manoeuvres, so it couldn't have worked out better! 

When we were done at the forest we set off for Camber Sands beach, and immediately got stuck in really heavy traffic! Which meant it took us absolutely ages to get there, so the latter part of the day ended up being a rush against the sunset as we needed the light. At the beach we were filming KT and the horse, it was so beautiful watching them running along the shore with the low sunlight.  Luckily KT could ride and keep the horse busy in between takes so he didn't get too fed up!

I love the contrast of the really angelic sounding song against the armour and fighting in the video.

KT was such a lovely person, so nice to work with, an absolute dream! I hope our paths cross again sometime. 

Wella conference

Thursday 11th/ friday 12th July

The Hilton hotel in Manchester has the comfiest beds ever. You just don't want to get up in a morning! I was lucky enough to stay here for the Wella conference, where myself and two other make-up artists had what felt like a trillion models to make-up for the show. Don't think I stopped for 12 hours!  It was hardcore! But lots of fun, I always have a laugh. Love the Wella team!!!

Knomo bags

Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th June 2013

Another shoot for Knomo with the lovely team.  We used the upstairs of a pub in Soho as a base to do hair, make-up and styling and then the shots were taken on location.  The images were meant to have a very natural feel to them which I think works really well.  They are going to be made in to a catalogue for AW13.

www.knomobags.com

Harrods

Friday 21st June 2013

Assisted Athena Skouvakis from Frank agency on a shoot for Harrods website, shot at Big Sky studios. I haven't worked with Athena before and she was super lovely! There was one female, and one male model, so was a nice easy day. The makeup was beautiful- flawless skin, sculpted cheeks and a different colour lip depending on the shot. And best thing about shooting there is the gorgeous lunch, scrummy! Athena said I was the best assistant she's ever had so that was a great end to the day!

Night Film by Marisha Pessl

Monday 17th June 2013

Author Marisha Pessl will soon be releasing her next novel Night Film. Back in November I already worked on one shoot for this book. For the Ipad and kindle there will be images to sit next to the text that also tell the story. I love this idea, you never see images in books anymore really. It was great to work on it again, I got to mess the character up a lot which was loads of fun! Make sure you read it when it comes out on 8th August!

Beach Candy Look Book

Monday 19th June 2013

Headed east to photographer Philip Volker's flat to shoot Beach Candy's SS 2014 look book. Sophie Paget Steavenson designs luxury resort wear that celebrates the rich textile heritage of India. The clothes were gorgeous, I wanted so many of them for myself! And what's even better is that they are created under the highest of ethical and fair trade standards.

www.beach-candy.com

Wella Trend Vision Tour

13th- 16th May, and 20th- 21st May

I have done this tour two or three times before and I always have such a great time.  It is also so knackering!!!  Lots of early starts, having to be on the coach for 6am for a 4-6 hour journey to the next location, before working all day again until around 9pm.  We travelled to Scotland, Manchester, East Midlands and back to London.  

I was making up the models for P.Kai and D&J Ambrose.  Here are two of my models for you to see......

I created the colourful splashes by mixing Mac pigment with Mac Fix + spray before flicking on to the face with a mascara wand.  It got a little messy!!!

What a great bunch of people to work with, and such great team spirit!  

Scanner and The Haxan Cloak

Sunday 28th April

These two incredible musical artists wanted to make a visual piece to go with their music for the Spitalfields Music festival.  Chris Turner was directing the film, he is incredible and I have worked on a few fashion films with him before.  As always I got to be very creative and do what I wanted.  My inspiration came from John Dowland's Lachrimae, which is what Scanner is showcasing his version of at the festival.  You can find out more about the festival here-

http://www.spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk/whats-on/summer-festival-2013/scanner-the-haxan-cloak/

Here is a sneaky peak at the make-up I did.

Clarks Style Guide

Tuesday 2nd- Friday 5th April

I was thrilled to be asked to shoot for Clarks again on this four day shoot, shot at Street Studios. It was for a film and a style guide book which will be on show in all Clarks stores. They will feature 10 international style ambassadors, so they were styled in a way which was very much about how they normally would dress, and do their hair and make-up. We had such a great time, everyone was super lovely and laid back. And the best thing about shooting there- the fresh, warm chocolate croissants they serve you every morning- yum!!!

English National Ballet/ Twenty 6 Magazine

Saturday 9th February

For the H issue of Twenty 6 magazine Chris Turner was asked to direct a film for the English National Ballet.  Twenty 6's fashion editor David Hawkins was styling the shoot, and the lovely Alex James Fairbairn was on hair.  As always we had a lot to get through, and we had to shoot it all in one day instead of the hoped for two day shoot.  Because of this we had Beth Alderson to do special effects and body painting, and Claire Kirby on hand to do the nails.  She made some crazy long spiked ones among others.  We also had Tamara Walsh who made some amazing head pieces incorporating hair.  6 dancers were taking part in the film and there was 9 different scenes to shoot with each dancer being in about three scenes, so there was a lot of rotations.  We had a small room to fit all these people in, and the clothes which made the situation a little stressful at times, but we got through it and I worked non stop practically for 12 hours, stopping for a short time to eat a few mouthfuls of food.  I was exhausted and very achy by the end!  What I saw of it though at the end of the day was amazing, as it always is when Chris is directing.  They shoot a lot on a phantom camera which means it goes super slow and the effect was just breath taking!  I can't wait for it to be finished so you can all see it!!!

http://www.twenty6magazine.com/issue-h/moving-image/hallowed

Knomo look book

Friday 8th February

Back shooting with Knomo who make gorgeous bags, for their SS 2013 look book.  We shot some of it on location in the Spitalfields area, and some indoors at the Espero studio on Brick Lane.  I had two girls to make-up.  One make-up had a slight futuristic/ 60s feel to it, another was a laid back natural look, and then I did an evening look as well.  One of the models was deaf since birth.  She was amazing!  She actually lives and grow up in Norway and flew over for the shoot.  She could write perfectly in English so we communicated by writing on our phones.  She just knew what to do in front of the camera and modelled really well.  She picked direction up straight away.  She was an inspiration!

http://www.knomobags.com/uk/?gclid=CPXCn7D0sLUCFUvHtAodzgEAMA

Jonathan Ross Show

Wednesday 6th February

Sony got in touch with me to ask if I was free to make-up the Hurt's dancers for the Jonathan Ross show.  They were performing a bit of Wonderful Life, and Miracle.  They wanted the same look that I did for the Miracle music video so I already knew what I was doing. Two of the dancers were from the video, and there was two different girls, all of whom are lovely.  The show is recorded at the London TV Studio's near Waterloo. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX0ZuTO_2pU

Athena Procopiou look book

Friday 1st February

The amazing stylist Vanessa Coyle got in touch and asked me to do the make-up for Athena Procopiou's AW 2013 look book.  She makes beautiful scarves and cover ups and this time is going for more of an evening feel.  We shot the look book at her studio near Imperial Wharf, and I went for an Alexander Wang inspired make-up, quite androgynous with a strong brow and gorgeous skin which the model was perfect for.

http://athenaprocopiou.com/

Hurts Miracle video

Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th January

The amazing director Chris Turner asked me to be on board for this music video.  It was a great two days, I got to be very creative and create some strong graphic make-ups, which I love.  We were shooting in a multi storey car park one day, and in an old derelict shopping centre the second day, which looked like it could house the homeless and drug addicts, and was just as cold as being outside, if not colder somehow!  I was very glad I wasn't the angel who had to do a scene in a bath of milk!  The poor girl was apparently ill for weeks afterwards bless her, but she was such a great sport on the day.  There was a lot of different characters to make-up and we were on a very tight schedule so it was tough going, especially as we were making everyone up in a Winnebago which had barely enough space to swing a cat in,  but still everything went smoothly and everyone looked amazing.  On the second day we also had the addition of Neil the raven, he was beautiful!  I didn't have to put make-up on him though! ;o) The song is amazing, you must listen to it!

http://www.informationhurts.com/gb/splash/

All Saints

Monday 7th January 2013

Today I started working for All Saints shooting their e-commerce.  We shoot in a studio in Haggerston and it's the coldest studio ever, ha ha!  But we have some nice big heaters which I am very grateful for.  We are like a family now, we shot 16 days just in January.  The team is so lovely, and I love working with them all despite the cold conditioons!!!

Night Film by Marisha Pessl

Thursday 22nd November

Marisha Pessl is an American writer best known for her debut novel, Special Topics in Calamity Physics. Her second novel, Night Film, a psychological literary thriller about a New York filmmaker looking into an apparent suicide, will be published by Random House in July 2013. A series of supporting images were needed for the Kindle, and photographer Paul Archer asked me to do the make-up. Some of the scenes were set in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, so I got to be really creative which was really fun. This is a more modern behind the scenes image from the shoot.