Tina Brocklebank Make-up artist
I always loved Art from an early age, I often say it was the only thing I was good at at school! I used to sit drawing faces for hours. What better career to go into to combine make-up, (which I also loved from an early age – thanks to my Mum buying me a Girls World!) and Art. I have been hooked ever since. I was hugely inspired by my Mum as she always looked so glamorous. She wouldn’t leave the house without her lippie on! Sadly I lost my Mum to cancer recently, she was 81.
Tina’s Mum.
When I was 20 years old, after doing several jobs I hated, I decided to pursue my dream of becoming a Makeup artist. I had to first learn about skin and had secured a place at North Lindsey college in Scunthorpe, studying Beauty Therapy. You may find it hard to believe, but the actual course was very in-depth and difficult, (but very rewarding). I couldn’t quite believe the fact that I was actually on a course teaching me about something I was so passionate about! I remember sitting in a make-up lesson feeling so happy, as we were taught so much, including the history of make-up, science, anatomy, physiology, skin analysis... I was hungry for more, but living in a small town, such as Grimsby, there wasn’t many opportunities for me and I was eager to learn more about the Art of Make-up. I was obsessed with Vogue, The Face and Elle at the time too, (and loved all of the Supermodels of course!). I knew my passion lay in makeup and Beauty Therapy was just the ground work for me.
When I was 23 I applied for a place on a H.N.D course for make-up and hair at the London College of Fashion, I was so happy when I was accepted. I was very blessed to have such supportive parents. My Mum and Dad are no longer with us, but without them, I would not be doing what I am doing now that's for sure and I owe them so much, I miss them terribly.
I graduated when I was 25. I absolutely loved London and the course, I met so many interesting people and visited so many fantastic places there, (including many nightclubs of course!). I worked for The Royal Opera House in London and was taught by BAFTA winning Make-up artist, Sheelagh Wells, who I adored! I also worked on London Fashion week and countless editorial and commercial shoots, it was amazing, but after I graduated I was overwhelmed with where to start and there was no help for students or guidance, (there was no social media then!). It was extremely tough. Things are so much easier these days to make connections and seek out opportunities. It was also whilst I was studying in London that I met my now Husband, Ian and we decided to move to Nottingham together when I graduated, (as I didn't want to move back home).
World cup body painting by Tina Brocklebank
During my time in Nottingham, I worked nationally as a Freelance Make-up artist for various agencies, gaining valuable experience and building up my portfolio, working on T.V, theatre, Editorial and commercial jobs. The Make-up artist industry was hugely different to how it is now. It seems everyone you talk to nowadays is a “Make-up artist” or has a friend who “does make-up” I worked so hard to gain the title and it seems you don’t have to do that nowadays!...I remember driving around Manchester and other cities, with my portfolio book, knocking on countless photographers doors, it was relentless, it was just how it was back then, there was no internet, no phones, no social media...I was highly ambitious but was exhausting all of my avenues to pursue my dream, and wasn't having a lot of luck...it’s so much easier nowadays with the global platforms and connections that the world wide web brings...but I am still here!
Tina Brocklebank Makeup artist. STALF shoot.
I gained representation from several well renowned model agencies, who had Make-up artists on their books – Models Plus in London, M.O.T. in Hertfordshire, Number One Model Management in Nottingham and Boss in Manchester. I loved working on exciting and diverse make-up jobs and travelling all over the country. I worked on London fashion week, The Royal Opera house in Covent Garden in London, Vision Express, Loaded magazine, Boots, Marks and Spencer and on lots of other great magazine shoots. I loved meeting the models, photographers and creative teams. It also gave me the opportunity to work on jobs which included Body painting, which I love.
Body painting by Tina Brocklebank Makeup artist for Stroke U.K
Freelance work was tough, (certainly not glamorous), the work was great, (when you got it), but you had to wait such a long time to get paid and then the agencies would take a good chunk from what you had earned. Eventually, I decided to go and work for Bobbi Brown in Nottingham part-time, (for a more reliable income I guess, but I still worked freelance), this was in 1997 and Bobbi’s make-up line and brand was new on the scene and I found it very exciting. I also loved the brands’ philosophy that less is more with makeup and I got to work on so many different skin tones and people and I absolutely loved that, (and still do). I was so happy when I got a job and was trained by them in London. It was hard work but I learned such a lot. This is where I fell in love with the brand. Bobbi Brown is still one of my idols, however, sadly she is no longer with the brand and to me, the brand has veered off the rails a bit with Bobbi’s philosophy. Bobbi now owns her new brand, Jones Road Beauty, and I am still a huge fan.
I also love Lisa Eldridge, (who I met last year at Liberty in London), Barbara Daly, Mary Greenwell, Val Garland, Rae Morris, Samantha Andrews Chapman, Nicola Chapman Haste, (both from Pixiwoo fame), Maggie Hunt, (who I have admired since my Vogue days and I am honoured to be in touch with her), Phyllis Cohen, Polly Osmond, (who I went to college with), Caroline Barnes, Vincent Ford, Alex Box, (like me from Grimsby!)..the list is endless. I find these artists all very inspirational.
In 1999 we relocated back to Lincolnshire, I married Ian and in 2000 I gave birth to our beautiful daughter, Alisha. I wanted to devote all of my time with her, and I am so pleased I did...
In 2003, Alisha had started going to nursery school and I was still thinking about make-up. I didn’t want to work whilst she was a baby, I adored spending time with her. We used to spend hours getting messy with paints and anything creative. I remember one day I walked into the room to find Alisha had painted her whole body and face, I was so proud! I encouraged her, and to this day, (she is 25), she is an amazing artist and has graduated with a degree in Fine art and photography from Camberwell Uni in London. I am so proud of her. She recently worked in New York on an internship with celeb photographer, Ryan McGinley, who works with Beyonce, Harry Styles, etc! She now works for a London based, online company as a Creative strategist for Morning and regularly works in New York. I am extremely proud of her. She has so much confidence and is very clever too.
In 2003 I began testing the water so to speak and offering make-up lessons and wedding make-up in Lincolnshire, (Alisha was about 3). I found that people in this area absolutely loved what I was offering. Makeup here was extremely limited and my clients loved the fact that I was a Professional make-up artist with lots of experience and using professional, exclusive products that they hadn't been able to experience. I wanted to give ladies in Lincolnshire the same opportunities as city ladies, so they could experience the high end makeup brands and products and provided a luxury experience. I had found a niche and no-one else was doing this at the time.
Since then I have built up an excellent reputation not only locally, but nationally too. I travel all over the country and I feel honoured to be able to help people of all ages, ethnicities and genders to not only look amazing, but feel amazing using makeup as the medium.
My job is also a caring and nurturing job and I consider myself to have these hugely important attributes together with the creativity I am blessed with to be a successful Make-up artist.
I now have my own countryside Make-up studio in *Brigsley, Lincolnshire, where I offer make-up lessons, special occasion make-up and occasionally, Bridal/wedding make-up, (which is by special arrangement). I am kept very busy and love my work. (*Brigsley is a little village, just on the outskirts of Grimsby, North east Lincolnshire.)
In 2020 I was given the opportunity to have my own cruelty-free brush collection. This includes a Luxury set and also a Travel set.
I am so dedicated and passionate about my work and I know how important great makeup brushes are in creating the highest standard of makeup, with ease and precision. My clients love being taught how to use my brushes and the right makeup to look their best.
I meet so many people who want to learn how to apply makeup quickly and simply, so I created my brush collection in 2020. Each brush is used and selected exclusively by me. The brushes are high quality, hand made in the U.K using traditional methods; with the handles being made from birch or beech wood from managed forests and the brush heads from the highest quality, synthetic, vegan hair.
See the link below to visit my Online store for more information/to purchase.
My work has taken me all over and I have met with hundreds of people over my 3 decades of being in the industry, but I am a country girl at heart! I love being at home and walking my dogs in the beautiful Lincolnshire wolds. I love a quiet and simple life.
My intentions were the same then as they are now: To offer a luxury, Professional make-up artist service and the opportunity to experience the best high end products in Lincolnshire. I also love to help people feel the best they can by the clever use of beauty products and my experience and expertise.
My 30+ years of experience include working for T.V and theatre, London Fashion week, Boots, No. 7, London Graduate week at St Martins college, The Royal Opera House, Loaded magazine, Marks and Spencer, Vision Express, Looks magazine, City Lights magazine, Snowboard UK magazine, Nottingham Playhouse, Sanatogen Gold, Arena magazine and Michiko Moshino and of course for Bobbi Brown. 20+ of those years I have spent building up my business from nothing and I am very proud of my achievements to date and grateful for all of the support from my parents, Husband and daughter, plus my clients and followers online.
I was also twice a finalist for Make-up specialist of the year for the prestigious Professional Beauty awards in 2011 and 2013, also National finalist for Best wedding make-up artist 2016 for The Wedding Industry awards for the East Midlands. I was also Beauty editor for The Lincolnshire Journal magazine which I wrote a monthly column for about 8 years. I am now Beauty Editor for Lincolnshire Pride magazine which I write monthly articles for.
I have worked on hundreds of weddings over the years all over the U.K and done hundreds of makeup lessons too. I love meeting people and promoting natural beauty when I can. Everyone is unique and I love that. I love my work and meeting so many amazing and inspirational people! I feel blessed that I am still doing what I love.
