Estelle’s make-up artist Nikki gives top marks to Uxbridge College training studio

Celeb make-up artist Nikki Bassy officially opened Uxbridge College’s fantastic new Hair & Media Make-up studios after inspiring students with a talk about her work with music industry names including Estelle.

Nikki’s stellar career included seven years as exclusive make-up artist to Grammy Award-winning Estelle, star of hits including the no. 1 smash American Boy with Kanye West, as well as celebrities including Beverley Knight, John Legend, Daniel Beddingfield, Natasha Beddingfield and Miss Dynamite. Nikki, who studied make-up at a south London college, got her big break when a friend who was a music producer for Def Jam records introduced her to Estelle when the artist was unsigned and virtually unknown.

Nikki, whose life experience has also included teaching dance and working with young people said: “Uxbridge College’s hair and media make-up studio is great – it’s a fantastic place to learn which looks really professional. I would definitely recommend young people complete a formal qualification – some people say you should just go straight into the industry but training at college gives you excellent skills and gives you options if you decide you want to do something different at some point.”

Louise Southam, Head of Hair, Beauty, Hospitality and Early Years, said: “Nikki was a real inspiration to our students and it’s fantastic to hear someone with so much industry experience give our hair and media make-up studio such a great review.”

The event also included a make-up demo by Uxbridge College lecturer Sita Gill who recently won the BABTAC & CIBTAC Make-up artist of the Year Award and Eyelash Technician of the Year Award and who has worked with celebrities and in film and television. Lorraine Winslade, who is the creator of the Love Your Skin London range which she trains students to use on clients, also attended the event. Lorraine, who worked in FE for 30 years and is also a former QVC expert presenter for skin care products, also helps students prepare for exams and get ‘world ready’ by sharing her experience.