Return to main Advice page

How To Guides

by Paul Vale
February 2002

Paul Vale was the Make-up Consultant for Charles H. Fox Ltd. for nine years and regularly writes for Make-up Artist Magazine in the USA.

How to become a make-up artist - where to begin

For an artist working in the theatre, film and television make-up is one of the most fascinating spheres of study. It can often demand all the disciplines of a fine artist; chemist; computer technician, biologist and diplomat rolled into one.

So where do you begin?

It is advisable, though not totally necessary, to study Hair and Beauty or Media Make-up at college. Most of the UK's major cities now have appropriate courses to varying levels and many working artists began their careers as either hairdressers or beauty therapists. In the business, the general exceptions to this rule are the model makers, sculptors and prosthetics people.

There is no point in being too blinkered regarding your career at this stage. Bear in mind that if you only want to practice make-up in theatre, there are now very few production companies which can afford to employ somebody that can't dress the wigs and hair too. For this reason, a firm grounding in Hair and Wig work will stand you in good stead. You may also discover that when work happens to be thin on ground, hairdressing may help bring in some money.

Courses

Courses will vary greatly and can usually be judged by the CVs of the tutors. Find out when and where the lecturers last worked in the business. Make-up is progressing as quickly as any technical aspect in the industry and the best tutors should be teaching by example.
You will also discover that many of the great masters in the industry including Rick Baker (American Werewolf in London), Stan Winston, (Terminator 1 and 2) and the UK's Chris Tucker, (Phantom of the Opera) are beginning to recommend a fairly broad knowledge of computer graphic imaging. This form of technology is being used more and more in the design stage for film and television work.

A degree course in make-up and its association with the performing arts is available in this country at the London College of Fashion - (http://www.lcf.linst.ac.uk Tel: 020 7514 7400).
Other colleges around the country are beginning to build a reputation and there are also the smaller, private schools such as Greasepaint (http://www.greasepaint.co.uk - Tel: 020 8840 6000) and Brushstrokes and in particular Delamar Academy (http://www.delamaracademy.co.uk Tel: 020 8579 9511).
Attendance at these schools requires private funding but it interesting to note that two of Penny Delamar's previous students, Trefor Proud and Christine Blundell, won Academy Awards for their work on Mike Leigh's film Topsy Turvy.

Portfolios

Hopefully your closest ally at college will be somebody on a photographic course. It is never too early to start a good portfolio of work, you may well need to present one at your college interview.
However when it comes to your professional portfolio it should include decent-sized, well-lit evidence of your work, including research material rather than snapshots mounted onto pieces of A4 coloured card. It is this portfolio, or 'book', that becomes your calling card in the industry.

Experience

Work experience is going to be the best training any artist is likely to get. Don't wait until your careers officer sends you for your required two weeks. Make contact with every theatre and theatre group in your area and offer your services free-of-charge for as long as the pressures of your curriculum allow.

Unquestionably London's West End offers a practically unending source of volunteer opportunities but be warned, the big theatres are extremely busy environments and placement may be very difficult. Remember there are a countless source of theatrical make-up 'models' in fringe theatre. Or, if you are keen to work on a film set then try offering your services as an artist on student films and shorts. Very often, the budget restrictions on these ventures will stretch the artist's imagination and make them think how to achieve the best results on very limited resources.

One of the best ways to find out more about training and apprenticeship is by talking to people who have been in the business for a while. You may like to contact the National Association of Screen Make-up Artists and Hairdressers, (NASMAH) on http://www.nasmah.org.uk/
Transatlantic chat is also available on Make-up Artist Magazine's website at http://www.makeupmag.com

Contacts and links

Charles H Fox Ltd Tel: 0870 2000 369

National Association of Screen make-up Artists and Hairdressers (NASMAH)

Make-up Artist Magazine

London College of Fashion Tel: 020 7514 7400

Greasepaint Tel: 020 8840 6000

Delamar Academy Tel: 020 8579 9511

Brushstrokes Tel: 01932 752 463

UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK)

Floodlight (course finder in and around London)

Hot Courses (course finder around the UK)