Greasepaint was founded in 1979 by its current Principal, Julia Cruttenden, and the success of so many students has built the school’s reputation throughout the industry.

What's on offer
The Greasepaint school offers a 14-week training course in TV, Film and Theatre Make-up and Hair, including prosthetics and wig work, and a five5-week course in Fashion Make-up and Hair. It takes a maximum of 24 students on any course, for which there are three tutors. Refresher courses and private lessons are also available. Skillset are sponsoring make-up artists who have been in the business for at least two years to do some of our courses.

Greasepaint teaching staff are highly experienced make-up designers. The school believes it is essential to have teachers who are still in the industry and therefore up-to-date with all the latest products and techniques. Their years of experience mean that not only can they teach students how to achieve a certain ‘look’, but also how to get themselves out of trouble if something goes wrong.

The specialist tutors include former BBC make-up designers, many of whom continue to work in the industry. The school also provides visiting specialists in areas such as prosthetics and hair.

Resident tutors include BAFTA-winning artists such as Shaunna Harrison (awarded for Tumbledown), period specialists such as Jill Hagger, who has House of Elliot, Ivanhoe and Poldark under her belt, and two BAFTA jury members in the form of Sue Bide, a Royal Television Society Award winner for Casualty, and Julia herself.

The school’s TV, Film and Theatre course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skill to start working successfully in the industry. It is split into three modules covering make-up, prosthetics and hair. The five day Airbrushing course covers knowledge of a variety of compressors and airbrushes, stencilling, nail and hair art, cosmetic make-up, tanning (which lasts four days) and casualty effects, baldheads, etc. The Fashion course gives a practical knowledge of the different hair and make-up techniques and current trends particular to the fashion world.

The Greasepaint Make-up Placement Agency finds work experience for recent graduates whose work is up to standard, often through the network of successful past students now working full time in the business. The Greasepaint Make-up Placement Agency also places established make-up artists throughout the industry.

There are three open days a year to give prospective students a chance to look around the studio, watch work in progress and talk about their career plans. However, should these dates be inconvenient, the studio is always open for anyone to view at any time.

During the training at Greasepaint both work and behaviour is assessed. At the end of each module, each student has a private assessment and is expected to take constructive criticism and put in the work needed to improve.