UCB鈥檚 talented make-up artist student Stephanie Harrison, has once again been victorious at a national competition, thanks to an inspired body art design which incorporated LED lights, UV paint and funky foam.
The 25-year-old from Tamworth in Staffordshire, won first place at the Warpaint Make-up Championships held at Professional Beauty London, the UK鈥檚 largest beauty show.
Entrants flaunted their creativity by bringing to life the theme 鈥楲ove Is All Around鈥�. Stephanie鈥檚 entry was entitled 鈥楲ove is Electric and a Whole Load of Butterflies鈥� and was inspired by her relationship with a new partner and the vibrant colours used by modern impressionistic artist Leonid Afremov. She said: 鈥淚 have one of his paintings on my bedroom wall which I think depicts love quite perfectly.鈥�
Stephanie鈥檚 dad Wayne, a computer technician, used his technical expertise to wire up the LED lights, which illuminated the UV paint. But winning was not on Stephanie鈥檚 mind when she competed the stunning creation.聽 She said: 鈥淲hen I finished, I actually didn鈥檛 like what I鈥檇 produced and was certainly not expecting to win. When I heard my name read out in first place, I felt overwhelming joy.鈥�
Stephanie, who is in her first year of a Specialist Hair and Media Make-up BA (Hons) degree at UCB, recently picked up two awards at the National Make Up Awards 2016, held as part of Beauty UK at Birmingham鈥檚 NEC. She was also handpicked to star in the Channel 4 programme聽Extreme Makeovers: On Fleek.
Asked if she still gets nervous, Stephanie said: 鈥淭otally! The nerves get a bit crazy at times. Of course you go into a competition to be successful, but I鈥檓 also there to have fun.鈥�
She believes competing is a good way of building experience and pushing creative boundaries. She added: 鈥淐ompetitions give you the opportunity to stretch your imagination because the themes can be so broad. I鈥檓 trying things this year I would never have thought of last year.鈥�
On completion of her degree, Stephanie hopes to undertake a Masters in Fine Art at Oxford University, and has already secured an interview later this year.
She will be showcasing her work as part of the Cabinet of Secrets exhibition at Centrala Art Gallery in Digbeth on March 22 from 4pm to 9pm. The exhibition is open to everyone.聽
