Student Stories: Katie Swindells, The Complete Makeup Artist

The Complete Makeup Artist is an intensive course that will prepare you with the professional skills required to become an in-demand makeup artist.

Student, Katie Swindells, talks to us about her experience on the course this year and where she hopes her new found skills will take her in the future.

Tell us a little bit about your background? 

I'm originally from Birmingham, but I've moved around a bit since then! I recently returned from living in Sydney for the last 2 years and am now settled in Brighton. I've always been a very creative person and after school I studied Interior Architecture at the University of Brighton. I pursued a career in interior design for 8 years, which I enjoyed, but makeup was always in the back of my mind.

What motivated you to pick The Complete Makeup Artist Course (are you a complete beginner to makeup)?

I had been thinking about doing a makeup course for around 5 years, but never had the opportunity or the confidence to do it! Once I had moved back home from Australia, I had some time in between working and it was the final push I needed. I am a complete beginner to make up and all the skills I had when I started were self taught. I've been wearing makeup since I was 12 and absolutely loved how it can transform your face.

^{Kate Swindells, The Complete Makeup Artist student}

Why did you choose London College of Fashion / How did you find out about the course? 

As I am making a career change, I spent a long time researching the right course for me. I had been looking at the course at LCF and I also contacted a couple of makeup artists, whose work I love, to see if they had any advice about which course I should do and they both recommended LCF.

What were your highlights over the 15 Saturdays (the course also runs intensively over three weeks Monday-Friday) on the course?

I would say the highlights were definitely the photoshoots. Even though it was a bit nerve-wracking, I really enjoyed the experience! It's so great to see your work come to life and makes such a difference when you get to work with a brilliant photographer and model. It gave me a real insight into what working in the industry would be like.

^{Bold Red Lip - Katie's work from one of the photoshoot students take part in on the course}

What was your favourite look and/or technique to learn? 

I would say my favourite was probably the 1960's makeup look when we were learning about different trends through the decades. It was also interesting to see how trends come back around again, as a brightly coloured graphic eye is popular at the moment and it is very reminiscent of 1960's makeup.

The course in very intensive. What did you find most challenging? 

I think the most challenging aspect was definitely working to a time frame. We were taught that most makeup looks should take no longer than 45 mins, which sounds like a long time, but when you're applying makeup onto someone else the time just flies! As you become more confident, you become so much quicker as the weeks go on.

^{Katie's work - Close up details}

What advice would you give to someone thinking of taking The Complete Makeup Artist course? 

I would definitely recommend the course to anyone who is a complete beginner to make up or even looking to refresh their skills; and especially to anyone looking to make a career change!

^{Modern Bridal Look - Katie's work from one of the photoshoot days on the course}

Now you have completed the course what are your hopes and plans for the future? 

I want to work as a freelance makeup artist and to keep honing the skills that I built up on the course. I'm hoping to go and work on a film set or theatre production, as I think it would be a really interesting experience that I would love to be a part of.