it’s all about you
handcuffs for brushes
Choosing a career is often one of themost difficult decisions wemake, but what happens if you get it wrong? Donna Taylor catches up with celebrity make-up artist, Louise Page, to find out how she took her career fromone in the prison services to beautifying celebrities . . .
Arriving at the beautiful Champneys Spa inHenlow, Bedfordshire, I’mabsolutely blown away by the grandeur of the 16th Century building. This is where I’mmeeting Louise Page,make-up artist to the stars.
One of the first rooms that Louise shows me when I arrive at Henlow is the beautiful roomthat will become her new academy, the Louise PageAcademy.With its intricately painted, bird inspired feature wall and statement chandeliers, itmakes a lavish, but perfect setting for amake-up academy.
With all this experience under her belt and exciting changes in the pipeline, you wouldn’t bemad for thinking that Louise must have been doing this since she left school, but you would in fact be wrong. Louise began her journey in the prison services before deciding to replace handcuffs formake-up brushes.Ten years on, Louise’smake-up career has grown incredibly, putting her where she is today.
So Louise, your career today is dramatically different to what it was just over 10 years ago.How did you get here?
“Duringmy time at the prison, a Schizophrenic prisoner injuredme and unfortunately I wasmedically retired. I had to re-evaluatemy career and think about what I wanted to do. I enrolled in amedia course at Brushstrokes, which broughtme to where I am.”
Most people would think once they were in a career, that was it, but that’s obviously not the case is it?
“I think that it’s ok to have a dramatic career
change.Most people think that if you haven’t done it at 18, you can’t do it, but I only started 10 years ago and I have a successful career. I don’t regret working in the prison service; I learnt a lot of skills. I managed a large group ofmen at the time and now I use these skills tomanagemy teamof celebrity clients. I learnt to be assertive and now nothing phasesme.”
I can imagine it doesn’t feel real when you think howmuch you have achieved?
“No, it doesn’t feel real!When I talk about it, I can’t believe the journey I’ve had and it doesn’t feel like I’mtalking aboutme. I’m very proud though of where I am.”
Your job sounds amazing,what’s the best bit about it?
“The creativity. Some students get frustrated, but as your journey develops your creativeness and input is important and matters. Students need to remember that their day will come, it’s just a case of accepting that it won’t be tomorrow and those that show pace will be the ones that survive.”
Theremust be some bad bits too?
“Earlymornings!You are the first person artists see in amorning so you need to be positive and upbeat otherwise you set the tone for the rest of the working day. It is an exhausting industry and you are always making other people look beautiful but you never have time for yourself.”
If you are interested in finding out more about studying at the Louise PageAcademy and taking your career further, visit
www.louisepageacademy.comor call 07507 200 679 formore information.
Your job is one thatmany in the beauty industry would dreamof,what’s your advice?
“You need to choose a training establishment and go and look
around.Try and look in on a class and ask if you can assist somebody whilst there to really get a feel for the course and the way it is taught. Speak to themabout what you want to learn. I try and tailor courses to whatmy students want. Everybody wants to domy job, but they don’t understand the work that goes with
it.My career didn’t start withmedia, it began with a very strong bridal service, which allowedme to offer my services to filmandmedia for free to build a portfolio.”
Why did you choose Champneys Henlow as the location for your new academy?
“Mostmake-up schools are in the heart of London and there isn’t anywhere a little further out andmore
residential.The environment and setting of the Spa creates a positive influence and is
calm.The grounds are great for photographic opportunities and the facilities here are brilliant. I always ensure that I get to spend 24-hours withmy students so they can get some advice and tuition fromme.”
88 GUILD NEWS
Louise Page
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