By Katie Robinson
I have managed The International School of Make-up Artistry for over 14 years now and the I have always been so proud of our students/graduates accomplishments in the industry. Even people who never intended to work in the industry, often change their mind throughout the course and end up having very successful careers as Make-up Artists. We put a focus throughout our training on working in the industry,
whether it is working for yourself as a freelance artist or working for a company. We also have a module on getting started in the industry, and how best to market yourself as a Make-up Artist. Many of our graduates are now leading artists in the industry, and we welcome them back to always meet with our new students.
For example Catherine Donoghue, now managing MAC Cosmetics in Galway, always speaks with our students and contacts us when positions are available. Sharon Lawlor, another graduate of ours, and now managing Estee Lauder, also comes to our school to give a talk with our students and Is always eager to meet with students from our school that would love a career with Estee Lauder (pictured below). We were also delighted to have been asked by Inglots owner for recommendations for a manger for their Galway Store, and we were delighted they hired Jennie Rock, who has also taken graduates of ours for work experience in their store.
We have graduates managing Cosmetic houses all over Ireland, and they would always keep us posted with positions available and ask for our recommendations. There are many of our graduates, that also are working for themselves, and have set up extremely successful businesses, such as Caroline Wimsey- who has won leading makeup artist for Ireland, and has a fabulous studio in Sligo. Ewa Doszczak, also has a fabulous studio set up in Galway, and is very well know in the industry for her talent. Charlene Flanagan, another graduate of ours, who is now a leading Make-up Artist within the industry and we would constantly recommend our new students to follow her social media handles for inspiration and to attend her masterclasses.
Each of our students and graduates are very special to us and we love to see them full fill their dreams, we are always eager to help in every way we can to succeed. We have students that have trained with us over 10years ago that still keep in contact and come back to the school for masterclasses and further training. When I meet any student that is eager to work in the industry and is ready and willing to put the work in then I truly believe it will always work out for them. All our tutors in the school are also very enthusiastic about seeing the students succeed, and actifly help them gain experience- Derrick Carberry has taken many of our graduates on shoots and weddings etc to help them gain work experience in the industry. Roy Wong is also fantastic and has given so many of our students/graduates fabulous opportunities to gain work experience with him on numerous shoots. Judy Wong is loved dearly by all our students and she has given students/graduates in our school experience work with her on shoots/shows/corporate events/weddings…… the list goes on… We are so privileged to have such an amazing team, and such hardworking and talented students. When you love what you do then it doesn’t feel like work, and while The International School of Make-up Artistry is a family run business, of a mother and daughter, I feel that the whole team is an extension of that, and we love every day.