MAKE-UP HAIR NAILS BROWS
SFX AIRBRUSHING LESSONS
M A K E - U P B Y N I C k i
ABOUT
"Make-up has always made sense to me, from the appreciation of bare skin all the way to full on drag make-up resembling fantasy art. Working with faces still amazes me today, 18 years on, navigating the colours, contours and quirks of the human face and body. I love seeing the looks of amazement on everyday people's faces when their imperfect feature looses its 'flaw' with a few strokes of the right product, in the right place.... make-up truly becomes magic"
Nicki
HISTORY
After gaining a business degree, Nicki chose a totally different direction for her career - one that was alive, intuitive and had feel. "I needed to be happy in my work, I needed to look forward to Monday mornings and get bored over Christmas holidays. The only industry that pulled me in was professional make-up"
Passively trained from 5 years of international modelling, Nicki attended a make-up artist school in London to back up her learning from watching pro make-up artists at work.
After her training, Nicki went to work for MAC cosmetics, fulfilling a young make-up artist's dream. From there she was asked to interview for a totally new retail make-up experience, POUT to be based in the heart of London's make-up Mecca, Covent Garden. Personally chosen with 4 other artists by Caroline Barnes, then Kylie Minogue's make-up artist, from 3 make-up interviews and 200 other applicants. A heavily services oriented store, Nicki had the incredible opportunity to train in nails by the UK's famous nail technician Leighton Denny.
"On my days off from POUT, I would often work at a fast paced photographic studio in London. I saw every skin colour, every problem conceiveable! The studio offered a free make-over and an hour's photoshoot for the general public in the hope of making money from selling prints of the session so as a make-up artist you had to be fast, good and do hair, make-up, a total eyebrow reshape and nails in little over an hour. It was crazy and hard work but the best education."
After the popular retail store visited by many a celebrity such as Kylie Minogue and even the exceptional and charming Dustin Hoffman (accompanying Anna Friel, not for his own needs!) Nicki joined her first agent, Artistic Licence and later enjoyed success with Michaeljohn Management, Carol Hayes Management who also represented the fantastic stylist Gok Wan, and later Models1 make-up division before going freelance.
A passion for teaching professional make-up artists was later realised through establishing The London Make-up Academy.
Nicki working at the Alternative Hair Awards
"I saw a real need in the industry for a sophisticated, advanced make-up artist course. One that really taught you technique to the highest level. I'm still really proud of my school, 16 years on, the course is better than ever".
"The highlights of my carreer so far? Working on the talented Michael Bublé, and with the lovely Jenai Chin on the Louis Vitton Chapman Brothers campaign and of course, personally producing hundreds of talented make-up artists worldwide. I have had students work for Italian Vogue Fashion, become head trainers for brands like Bobbi Brown International and beome personal make-up artists for international socialites such as Formula 1's Bernie Ecclestone's wife and daughters and other celebrities like the ever popular Graham Norton. Others have set up salons in their countries including Los Angeles, USA and Sao Paolo, Brazil."
I retired from the London Fashion make up scene to move to Norfolk and start my family. Focusing on private clientele and bridal make up, I love my work more than ever. If you are ever in my make up chair you'll know exactly how make up can truly work wonders.
love from Nicki xx