By ANN FOTHERINGHAM

MONKEYS, mermaids and Marie Antoinette - make-up just got magnificent at New College Lanarkshire’s annual showcase.

The 34 students on the HND Make-Up Artistry course took part in the event at the College’s Coatbridge campus.

Models were transformed by students, with many spending hours perfecting latex special effects, intricate wigs, high fashion editorial looks or full body painting.

Kay Barclay Robertson, 28, from Cumbernauld, drew on her musical theatre roots to create a character inspired by Fagin from Oliver.

Kay, who is a singer with Bourne Leisure and performer with Musichoir Scotland, enlisted the help of family friend and am-dram actor Bill Green.

Kay said: “I’ve been interested in musical theatre since I was a young girl and I thought Fagin would allow me to do ageing make-up and create a character that was quite creepy, but also comical.

“I’d like to be a lecturer in the future and for now I’ve set up a salon in my house and I’ll do theatrical make-up as well.

“I designed the set and my dad helped me build it using old wood that was in our garage.

“I’ve absolutely loved my three years at New College Lanarkshire – I’ve always been interested in make-up and hair and I’ve fallen in love with it.”

Student and former hairdresser Elizabeth Sweeney, 31, from Coatbridge, used special effects make-up to transform friend Hayley MacNaught into a skate-boarding monkey called Harry.

She said: “I’ve clashed Planet of the Apes with Back to the Future.

“I’ve covered Hayley’s arms and face with crepe hair and she wears a prosthetic nose and mouth – it’s quite a transformation.

“As part of our course, we had to do 100 hours of production study, which involves volunteering in theatres and shows, so I would really like to go into theatre work when I finish my studies.

“I also get a lot of freelance bookings for hair and make-up now. People used to only get their make-up done for weddings, but nowadays a lot of clients get their make-up done for nights out or birthdays.”

Images of all the students and their models were captured by photographer Karen Muircroft.

Lecturers also assessed each students’ work, which forms the basis of their graded unit.

Lecturer Ashley Moreland said: “Students took aspects from every unit that they’ve completed during their time at the college to create this live event.

“Some took inspiration from books, some from films, some created their own characters from ideas that they had.

“Some of the characters were quite mysterious, pretty and dream-like; some were dark with blood and guts.

“It is always really exciting for us to see how students can take an idea, combine it with everything that they’ve learned over their time with us, and translate that into a character.

“It’s brilliant to see how their imagination just springs to life.”

Applications are now open for courses incorporating make-up skills, which range from introductory level to HND.

They are available at the College’s campuses in Coatbridge, Cumbernauld, Kirkintilloch and Motherwell.