Face & Body Art
Face ArtWhat you see in this gallery isn't face painting in the way you might remember it from a school fete! This is collaborative, conceptual, character-driven work. We can build from a brief, a mood board, a feeling, or sometimes just a single wild idea that we develop together. From elaborate full body paint to detailed character faces, themed event looks to theatrical transformation, every piece is created entirely by hand and entirely for you.
My background is in professional face and body art, developed over 14+ years of working with performers, photographers, immersive theatre companies and private clients across the UK and internationally. I bring a painter's instincts to everything I create, with attention to detail, colour knowledge and products that last the night. I love a good brief! Specific, strange, other-worldly. Come to me with a reference, a concept, or a vague vision, I’ll put some mood boards together and we'll go from there. Some of my favourite work has come from the most unexpected starting points.
I'll always give you a realistic time estimate when we discuss your project, and I can organise a team of artists if you need multiple looks or several artists for larger scale events.
Everything I use is cosmetic grade, hypoallergenic and suitable for sensitive skin. My kit, brushes and products are thoroughly disinfected before and after every job. If you have any known allergies or skin sensitivities, just let me know when you get in touch and we'll make sure everything is right for you.
Who might hire this? Photographers and creative directors looking for something genuinely striking for editorial or concept shoots. Performers, dancers, cabaret and burlesque artists who need a look that holds up under lights and lasts a full show. Immersive theatre and events companies building worlds that need to be inhabited. Private clients who want something unforgettable for Halloween, a themed party, a festival or a shoot. Drag artists who want a collaborator who understands the craft. Music video directors who need something that reads beautifully on camera.
Body ArtI've been working as a professional body artist since working for three time world champion Yolanda Bartrum at BodyFX in New Zealand in 2015, where I learned how to turn paint into wearable art, developed my techniques, and completely fell in love with the scope of what this medium can become. Since returning to the UK and founding Painted Peach, I've won body art competitions, been published in magazines, and collaborated with some extraordinary creatives.
If you don't have a fully formed idea yet that's absolutely fine! We can just have a chat. We can work from a colour palette, a reference image or even a feeling. Once we’ve discussed ideas and settled on a concept, I’ll create a design, so I can bring some expectation of timings. Depending on the complexity of the piece this preparation can take anywhere from a few hours to several days. The creativity begins long before a brush touches skin. The model needs to be comfortable, warm and patient and I'll make sure you are. We'll take breaks when needed, keep you fed and watered, and check in throughout. By the time we're done, I guarantee it'll feel worth every minute.
As an artform, I personally find it to be my very own zen space. For the model, it’s a powerful transformative experience where they get to leave their reality, their form, their skin, for a few hours and be immersed in something magical. Oftentimes it feels like you’re not you, or like you’ve tapped into an even more authentic version of you from another realm, an entire new scope for play and character to evolve. Living art.
