A MAKE-UP artistry student from Glasgow has made the UK final of a major international make-up prize.

Sam Curley, a New College Lanarkshire student, is one of five UK make-up artists to battle it out for The Brush Contest by L'Oreal Paris, which is fronted by Desperate Housewives actress Eva Longoria.

Sam, 21, from Dennistoun, received more than 3000 public votes to take him a step closer to the dream prize.

A judging panel will now decide which of the five UK finalists will go towards the international final in Paris, where they will create looks for supermodels such as Karlie Kloss and Lara Stone.

The overall winner will receive a €100,000 year-long professional contract with L'Oreal Paris cosmetics.

Sam, who will receive £3,000 worth of products for making it this far in the competition, was initially selected as one of 50 shortlisted artists whose YouTube videos were voted for by the general public.

He said: "To make the final five in the UK is just incredible - I was so shocked when I found out.

"This is an amazing opportunity for budding make-up artists who want a route into an industry that is very difficult to get into.

"It's good to have an affirmation from a global company, and to know that they like my work.

"I didn't really expect the response that I got - a lot of people were rooting for me because they know that I do work so hard in trying to be a make-up artist and trying to make it in that industry."

Sam has been a student of HND Make-up Artistry at the Coatbridge Campus of New College Lanarkshire since August 2014.

His interest in make-up artistry stemmed from his schooldays at St Mungo's Academy in Glasgow's East End when he used foundation to cover up freckles. He progressed on to applying make-up for friends attending special occasions.

He now captures his dramatic self-transformations through videos and photos posted on his social media sites.

He said: "I thought it would have been hard because I'm a boy and I'm doing make-up, and a lot of people can be wary of that, but I think that boys deserve more recognition.

"The message that I try to put across is that it doesn't matter who you are, you can do make-up.

"I always get messages from people saying that they really respect my confidence and that I've helped them in coming out to their family, because I've got a lot of people from the LGBT community following my Facebook page.

"When they see that I go out with make-up and wigs, they see that they shouldn't be afraid. That's what I want people to have - confidence in themselves, not just in make-up but in everything in life."

His make-up artistry heroes include American special effects creator Rick Baker, Oscar-winning make-up artist Ve Neill and cult YouTube star Manny Mua.

Sam added: "I'd love to get into special effects and get into films, although I still like the fashion and editorial side.

"I don't think there will be one set job that I will have - there are a lot of things that I want to do.

"Right now, the goal is to get a job working on The Walking Dead!"

Donna Brogan, Curriculum and Quality Leader in Hairdressing and Make-up Artistry at New College Lanarkshire, said: "Sam is an extremely creative make-up artist who demonstrates skill, imagination and individuality in everything he does.

"This is an amazing opportunity for such a young make-up artist and the response to his video entry has been outstanding."

The Brush Contest is the world's first online international make-up artist competition.

Winners from 13 countries, including USA, France, Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, China, Thailand, Italy and Turkey, will go forward to a grand final in Paris.

Sam will find out on March 23 if he will represent the UK at the final.

The final, hosted by Eva Longoria, will be broadcast from Paris on YouTube on May 1.