Our tutors
After spending a good six months a year in Belfast’s Titanic Studios, where Jane Walker is the Multi-award-winning make up designer on ‘Game of Thrones’, our esteemed tutor (though she never blows her trumpet) then comes into CBMA for our Casualty module. With film credits far too long to name, but by designing cult favourites like “Shaun of the Dead” and “Attack the Block” as well as “GOT”, she’s up there with the best…
Gina Blondell is our South London Fashion make up tutor and a more stylish addition to our tutor group you couldn’t find. Graduating from university with a degree in Graphics and Illustration, Gina then went on to train at CBM Academy. Predominantly working within the realm of fashion, Gina also works in film, music and advertising. And has the best boots in the business. Fact.
CB*MA’s tutors all currently work as professional film, TV and theatrical makeup designers and artists, and are chosen not just for their experience but also for their personality and ability to teach in an enjoyable, yet effective way.
You will learn from award-winning experts in all aspects of specialist areas. As an example our prosthetics tutor has worked not only on Doctor Who but also helped created the animatronics you saw in War Horse, whilst our Theatre Tutor has recently returned from South Asia where she has overseen the first production of Les Miserables in Japan. Christine is constantly searching for up and coming, as well as established, make up artists and designers to come and teach at the Make up school. You can see below the calibre of tutors at our academy.
Part of the process of teaching and one of the reasons we have “real” make up artists teaching and not full time teachers, is the fact that they communicate to the students, about their experiences, good and bad. You will receive tips on how to handle the challenging personalities you will no doubt meet.
Learning your craft is one thing but there is no substitute for guidance from those who have been there and done it in the real world.
Originally from New York, Dan has been working in film, TV and Theatre for over 21 years, here in the UK. He has worked on such films as Shaun of the Dead, Prometheus, Dark Shadows, The Harry Hill Movie as well as TV shows such as Doctor Who and Game of Thrones. Dan has done makeup masterclasses in Glasgow, Lisbon and Beirut and teaches for London College of Fashion as a visiting Tutor.
Make up artist and wig maker for the Royal Opera House, Nina has just notched up many years in the Theatre and Opera world. She has just completed her run at the theatre on the Kenneth Branagh production starring Dame Judy Dench. She is a true artist in her field, and has a trained visual eye – she is even known for her jewellery designs which she studied at Central St Martins. She teaches both wigs and theatre here at CBMA and is known for her trips out to galleries teaching some of her skills of research and eye for detail.
Our own Danny who can turn his hand to hair styling, cutting, and is also our celebrity fashion make up artist. He has worked for Vogue.com, Wonderland Magazine, Rhianna, Rita Ora, Men’s London Fashion Week…I will stop there. He believes the best thing about working with in this field is that it is ever evolving and having the confidence to follow your passion to create something different. His ambition is to bring new standards in trying to achieve unparalleled perfection coupled with ingenuity by balancing ideas through art, nature and science.
Fresh from his Oscar nomination as designer of Cloud Atlas, and having previously worked on The Lord of The Rings and The Woman in Black. Jeremy’s energy has been a great asset in teaching our students a variety of skills.
For our casualty week our students are with one of the safest pair of hands in the industry. Julies credits range from Gladiator to Dark Knight Rises. After many years in the industry she is still very excited about products and what they can do.
Lesa has been Christine’s chief make-up artist for some years now….how does she put up with it! A lovelier character you are not going to meet. We try and arrange Lesa to start the course as all the new students are nervous. She soon has them working with big fat smiles.
A London College of Fashion alumni, Sara Kramer is our undisputed Queen of Casualty. She has done many years of TV hair and make up, most recently ‘Holby City’ and ‘Endeavour’ and is on one feature film to the next. She was one of the youngest make up designers on her first feature, ‘Young Sinatra’ with the new Dr Who, Petar Capaldi. Our Boot Camps with her would reduce grown men to rubble, and her favourite phrase in our casualty module is “not enough blood”.
Andrew came to us from the theatre — a world full of sumptuous wigs and styles. He is already the talk of the film world and is as we speak, working on Star Wars!
Aaron has created some fantastic prosthetics for Gilliam’s masterpiece Brazil among other top
Matt is a hugely experienced prosthetic make-up designer whose credits range from the award winning The Reader to World War Z.
Liz has made wigs for a large number of Britain’s top films, we are delighted to have her sharing her knowledge with us.
It is an honour to have double Emmy award winning Daniel teaching on Casualty and Mini Boot Camp and wig work too! He has been working in the industry for years on beautiful films such as Jane Eyre and Tamara Drewe.
Paul has worked in make-up with Christine on Sherlock Holmes among a range of films including Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and Cronenberg’s Eastern Promise. He is a great hairdresser.
Tahira, from Canada and has established herself as one of the new make-up designers on the circuit. Organised, insightful and ready to help all.
Amy’s extensive credits range from ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ to ‘Kick – Ass’, and all the Harry Potter movies. She has held court with us over our exclusive Boot Camp to casualty.
Mama Mia, Saving Private Ryan, Alexander and The Beach, Polly’s experience is amazing considering her youthfulness. Such a versatile all rounder.
Head of Makeuppro and expert on Fashion and Black Beauty make-up, Bolanle is an energetic and enthusiastic tutor who runs our Fashion week.
Charmaine has worked on such varied blockbusters as Star Wars to Pirates of the Caribbean, to St. Trinians. She has run crowd rooms for many films.
Provides our students with her knowledge from films such as ‘World War Z’ and ‘X-Men: First Class’, we are delighted that Jessica is joining us for casualty with extra blood.
The master of television comedy! Mighty Boosh , Shooting Stars, French and Saunders, The IT Crowd…..to name but a few. Christine runs our Boot Camp single handedly.
Mandy Gold is our go to lady for our basic make-up week. Having worked on many films such as ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, ‘Snow White and the Hunstman’ and ‘Hugo’ to name a few, Mandy has years of experience under her belt, that she can share with our students. With her fun loving and outgoing personality she is always a joy to have in the academy.
Having Paul teach at the academy is a fantastic opportunity for our students to work with someone so credited within the industry. Paul has designed and worked on many films such as ‘Pirates of the Carribean’, Les Misarables’, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and working on most of Tim Burtons films as well. It is always a plesure to have Paul here, teaching our students all there is to know about Basic hair, Barbering and even period hair and makeup looks.
Stephen Rose is a Hair/make-up technician and has been in the film industry for over 30 years. Whether it be Victorian, Edwardian decades of the 20th century or 12th Century India or Japan, the research process and interpretation brings a new and fresh excitement. He has had 6 nominations and been the recipient of 2 Emmy’s and a Bafta for ‘The Gathering Storm’ in 2003. Just don’t ask him about Oliver Reed…!
Jana is our ‘new kid on the block’ tutor and it is such a pleasure to have her here with us at the academy. With the nickname ‘Facial Queen’ our students are certain to learn the very best techniques in applying and creating facial hair. Not only this but her Casulty make up skills have also come to impress the students as well. Jana has worked on some very well know films, such as, ‘Romeo & Juliette’, ‘Prometheus’ and ‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou’ to name a few.
Luca Vannella started his career as a hair stylist in his family business salon in Central Rome where he was born. At the age of 19, Luca moved to London to work at Tony & Guy, where he was quickly moved up to the position as Style Director, before moving on to the fashion world. After threes years, Luca moved back to Italy to peruse his dream career in the Film industry. Luca is now back in London working to create his own legacy that will remain in the film industries history. He has worked on a huge variety of films such as, Thor, Skyfall, War Horse, Harry Potter and most recently Heart of the Sea and The Avengers.