Alison Pollard – Program Lead – Hair stylist, Wig Mistress and maker.
Alison did her vocational training at the London College of Fashion, studying Hair, Make-up and Wig making, she then went on to work at Kent Opera, touring. This led to work in the West End on numerous shows, including Blondel, Cats, Me and My Girl, Winnie and Follies, also a European tour of My Fair Lady. I was the Wig Mistress on the TV series Spitting Image and Make-up Artist for corporate videos, also a number of TV and film productions, including The Story teller for Channel 4.
Alison joined GBMC as the hair tutor here at Northbrook MET. She specialises in all hair and wig styling. Alison became the Programme Lead in 2020 and has lead the move from the Foundation Degree course over to the full BA (hons) Degree in Make-up and Hair.
Lydia Pankhurst – Lecturer – Commercial Make-up artist and Body Painter
Lydia studied here at GBMC and gained her BA (Hons) in Theatre and Media Make-up and Hair in 2010. Lydia has built a successful career as a freelance make-up artist & hair stylist. Lydia started her career by assisting in TV and film which lead on to working in the hair department on a BBC4 drama, Andrew Lloyd Webbers Over the Rainbow – Finding Dororthy and the wig department on Disney’s The Prince of Persia before changing the direction of her career towards commercial make-up, where has worked on numerous LFW shows, her most favourite being Charles Jeffery LOVERBOY in 2017. Lydia has worked for MAC as part of their PRO events team and Body Painting team. Lydia specializes in commercial, PR and beauty make-up and has worked on brand campaigns for companies such as Bio Oil, Holland & Barrett and COLLECTION LOVE makeup.
Lydia Joined the team at GBMC team 8 years ago where she became make-up technician. In 2020 she accepted the role of a make-up lecturer teaching all aspects beauty, period and body painting makeup whilst continuing to work in industry.
https://www.instagram.com/lydiapankhurst/
Julie White- Lecturer – Special effects, Hair punching and Postiche knotting
Julie started working in the entertainment industry in 1986 and has carried on doing so since. She has worked as Madam Tussaud’s as painter and hair puncher for the celebrity models.
Julie is an experienced fx painter, hair puncher and prosthetic artist and has worked on a number of Hollywood films such as Harry Potter, Snow White and the Huntsman, Stars Wars- the Phantom Menace, Captain America along with many more.
Julie taught on our foundation degree, and in 2020 accepted a the role of make-up lecturer covering all aspects of fx and character makeup such as painting prosthetic’s pieces, hair punching, postiche making and application.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2569959/
Jason Snelling – Hair technician/ Part time lecturer – Hair dresser and Wig dresser.
Jason has worked as a hairdresser for 30 years, specialising in salon based and session styling. This has provided Jason with many year experience of the industry. Jason then went on to specialise in period hair and hair and make-up history.
Jason joined us at GBMC 7 years ago as Hair technician and also lectures part time specialising period and Avant Garde hair, using is years of experience, passion and vast knowledge of period hair and make-up to educate and inspire students.
VISITING LECTURERS
Alex Jones – Wig knotting and postiche Maker
Alex completed my BA (Hon) in Hair and Makeup for Theatre Arts at GBMC Northbrook MET in 2011. After completion she worked as a freelance hair and makeup artist for various different television, film and festival jobs, before deciding to proceed into the wig making industry. She began working freelance for a wig making company based in Brighton, working and assisting on The Lion King musical productions, as well as other projects. With this Alex got to travel the world setting up shows.
Alex now currently works as a freelancer for a London based wig company, who amongst many other shows, work predominantly on the Harry Potter Cursed Child productions globally. Alongside the theatre work, Alex started her own company, Alexandra Postiche, specialising in wig making and design, and providing tailor-made short courses for those who wish to learn the art.
Alex joined the team in 2020 and now also lectures as an industry specialist for GBMC.
Ximena Rodriguez – Body Painter and beauty make-up artist
Ximi qualifies with a BA (Hons) in Hair & Make Up for Theatre & Media from Northbrook MET in , Ximena has built a reputable freelance career as a makeup artist over nearly 8 years. She has gained a broad range of experience working internationally in fashion (including live shows, photographic and editorial work) education and commercial areas within the makeup industry.
With her appetite to learn more and develop her expertise, she became a wig maker in 2019; her first experience was on “Harry Potter” and more recently she has been working on “The Lion King”.
Ximi joined the team in 2017 as a body painting lecturer. Her research areas are varied but she has always showed a keen interest in creative makeup design and body painting, always exploring new textures, materials and techniques. Ximi is passionate about this subject and seeks to encourage students to aspire to become innovative, creative individuals in an exciting field of work.
IN MEMORY OF AMANDA
Amanda Burns- Course Founder
Amanda worked as a make-up artist for 30 years specialising in T.V make-up. She started at the BBC as a costumier and then left to complete an HND in Make-up and hair at University College or Arts. Amanda then went on to freelance for 16 years working on shows such as GMTV, SMTV live, Gloria Huniford show, POP IDOL -The rivals, Loose women, Strike it lucky, to name a few.
Amanda started a make-up course in London and then went on start the FDEG here at GBMC in 2007 which she built from scratch. Her passion for the industry and make-up made the course what it is today.
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