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Jennifer Lenard


Jennifer Lenard, a member of the Habia Beauty Skills Team on her career as a make-up artist and teacher.

Tell us how you got into make-up and about your career
Before becoming a make-up artist I was a professional ice skater. My work included performing in Disney on Ice in Blackpool and between my appearances I began to help out back stage to keep myself occupied. This involved anything from fixing props to assisting the hairdressers and make-up artists. By doing this, I found that I really enjoyed make-up work and the make-up artists told me I had a knack and should consider training. I was also getting older in terms of my ice skating career so I decided to go for it. Disney on Ice put me in touch with a studio and I took two years training alongside gaining experience working on make-up with Disney on Ice.

I then went on to take an intensive make-up course so I could advance my skills further and I helped out for free, doing a variety of work including wig work at the Richmond Theatre Opera House and working on films by students. Through Richmond Theatre I began working on the TV series Last of the Summer Wine, which gave me my first break into television work. This gave me the experience I needed and I started sending my CV out to media companies. I then began working with Carlton Studios on a variety of productions. This evolved into work with celebrities and work throughout the industry on many feature films and TV programmes, including Dalziel and Pascoe, Doctor Who and The Office.

And now you also teach?
As an ice skating teacher for many years I enjoy training others, so I decided to get into teaching make-up. I now divide my time between being a freelance make-up artist and teaching. I teach at Retford International College, Claringdan and I also work all around the country specialising in airbrushing for colleges that are just starting out in this area. The courses I teach are Level 2 and 3 VTCT Fashion and Photographic, Media Make-Up, Creative Hair - ABC, Historical Hair, VTCT Special Affects and Character Make-up and also BT9 Beauty Therapy.

What makes your job special?
Being a make-up artist is a fantastic occupation. I get to work with so many different people and travel around the UK and beyond. It’s great knowing all the tricks of the trade and getting to see new products first. The most rewarding thing is being able to enhance someone’s appearance. Seeing a person’s reaction in the mirror and the confidence it gives them is very rewarding.

Make-up artistry also allows you to express your creativity through design, creating characters and completely changing a person’s appearance. The character designs start on paper and then through the input of the director, the actor playing the part and myself, bring the character to life.

For more information on training with Jennifer, please contact Habia on 0845 6 123555 or email sales@habia.org.