I found myself asking this question as I am preparing for a shoot with three girls in one day. I would prefer to do one at a time and then watch the shoot, and then adjust the client as a stylist. But on this occasion it’s not possible.

I have been watching some Lisa Eldridge’s  Videos and asked myself the same question. In some ways our beginnings are very similar. We are of a similar age ( but she looks much younger than her years) and became fascinated with art and make-up in very much the same way. She says in an interview that she became intrigued with make-up by looking through her mother’s make up bag, and later stated that she wanted to become a make-up artist, but said nobody knew what one was at that time.

I also remember stealing, or rather permanently borrowing, a Mary Quant olive green cream stick eyeshadow from my mother’s make-up collection. And when it finished, ( this was somtime in the 1970’s, I was heartbroken, as it brought out the colour in my blue eyes. It just made them pop. ( I have been looking for the perfect green for my eyes ever since.)

Lisa said she wanted to be a makeup artist. I wanted to be a window dress designer. I would have loved to be a makeup artist, but my skin then was not great, and I just could not see that career working out. In the late 70’s early 80’s I met a lovely lady who was a BBC make- up artist. She showed me all the different looks that could be achieved by highlighting and shading. It was a new world. I am not sure there were any official qualifications for make- up artistry in those days. You learnt at an academy or as an apprentice. There were no NVQs.

I learnt all I could from books over the years. I even have a very rare book in my possession. It is dated now, but fun to look at none the less. I didn’t officially qualify, if that really means anything, until 2012. The most important part of that course to me was about hygiene, which I take very seriously.

So I ask again what is a make- up artist?  Well I think it is someone who can make you look good or your worst or best day, someone who can make the most of your best assets; someone who can find the right colour to enhance your eyes.  Would I have liked to have flown all over the world as a make-up artist to the stars? The answer is no, because my career in media did that anyway. And working on magazines in advertising as I did, meant not dealing with temperamental models.

I promise you, if we are to ever meet in a professional setting, whether than be at pre wedding shoot or a portraiture shoot, then I will do my very best to make you look stunning; because seeing a client glowing, is what gives me pleasure.