Delight for Laura as she scoops top award
A young Perth makeup artist is aiming high after picking up her first award while in lockdown.
Laura Wardlaw was named freelance makeup artist of the Year for central Scotland at the Scottish Hair and Beauty Awards.
But rather than pick up her prize at a glitzy awards ceremony, Laura found out online that she had triumphed.
The 21-year-old said: “It was very surprising to win. It was the first time I had been nominated for anything.
“I was up against some pretty amazing people, so it’s a really big achievement.
“I’m definitely going to have a celebration afterwards. It would have been nice to have been able to get dressed up and go out and celebrate.”
Laura first took up makeup when she was around 14.
She picked up tips from YouTube and, despite being told she should not pursue a career in it, has flourished ever since.
Just two weeks before she was initially due to start at university, she deferred her course to go to the Academy of Make Up in Glasgow.
It was a decision that has paid off and for the last three years, under the brand name Laura Elizabeth Make-Up, she has worked at weddings, photoshoots and with the BBC.
She currently works in Copperfields on Perth’s South Methven Street.
Laura is now back at university studying criminology and sociology at Stirling, but she says makeup remains her priority.
“I’m so glad I went to the Academy of Makeup,” she says.
“Makeup is 110 per cent what I want to do. I’ve always been interested in criminology and sociology, but makeup is my passion.
“I think a lot of people thought makeup would be a fall back, but that’s not the case.”
Laura, a former student at St John’s Academy, hopes to go on and carve out a career in the commercial industry.
For now she is enjoying working with her clients in Perth, but like everyone, the lockdown has been a challenge.
“It’s really not great at the moment,” she told the Perthshire Advertiser.
“I really miss being at work and I miss my clients.
“I just make sure I am on social media uploading things to engage with them and stay in touch.
“I was booked with a lot of brides who had waited for two years and now their wedding won’t happen as planned.
“But there are a lot of people in much worse positions.”