Celebrating Creativity: Highlights from Our Makeup Showcase

On Wednesday 18th March, Oaklands College’s makeup students delivered an incredible showcase of creativity, demonstrating their skills in makeup artistry, hair styling, and costume design. Alongside their final looks, students presented detailed design plans in their sketchbooks, highlighting the depth of their creative process.

Level 2 students were challenged to create original film characters, while Level 3 students worked from a professional brief set by the Royal Opera House. They researched the renowned opera Das Rheingold and developed imaginative character concepts. Over several weeks, students dedicated themselves to research, planning, and practice, culminating in this live showcase.

The event was judged by a panel of industry experts, including Emma from Warpaint Magazine, Che from Kryolan, and Oaklands College alumni: Gemma (freelance makeup artist), Carys (Luxe L’Oréal Counter Manager), Carla (Retail Makeup Artist, Charlotte Tilbury), and Lottie (Hairdresser, Academy Now). Their expertise provided valuable feedback, and three finalists were selected from each level.

In the evening, family and friends joined a spectacular catwalk show in the iCollaborate space, complete with live filming displayed on a big screen, creating a professional and exciting atmosphere. The showcase celebrated not only the students’ creativity but also their hard work, skill, and dedication.

Awards were presented to the finalists, alongside special recognition awards for outstanding achievement. The evening was further enhanced by performances from Oaklands performing arts students, adding extra excitement and entertainment.

We extend our sincere thanks to our judges and generous sponsors, including Kryolan, ISO Clean, and Nanshy, as well as all Oaklands staff who helped make this event a success.

See the winning pieces below and celebrate the outstanding talent of our makeup students!