FOR many makeup artists the goal is to make people more beautiful.
But one day former Priestley College student Lauren Benson hopes to put brush to skin and achieve the opposite effect – of making someone look positively grotesque.
“I’d love to be on film sets creating zombies and other creatures,” she said. “I’ve always watched programmes like The Walking Dead and admired the skill of the makeup artists.”
The 19-year-old studied Production Arts alongside a Dance A-Level at Priestley and left with a double distinction* before going on to study Special Effects Make-up Artistry at Manchester College.
So far she has created everything from a 1940s sailor photoshoot to prosthetics and animatronics.
Her love of all things gothic was put to good use when she created a fallen angel with broken wings, but outside of university she has also transformed people into Halloween zombies at Apple Jacks in Stretton.
Lauren is also working on a short film being produced by Masters students at Manchester University and running her own business as a makeup artist where most of her work is bridal and beauty looks.
However, she hopes to eventually work in TV and film with more gory outcomes.
“I also hope it will allow me to travel and meet different people,” she said.
“I just love transforming people and take lots of before and after photos.”
Lauren, from Orford, has always been interested in performance, but developed a passion for makeup and costume during her time at Priestley.
The former Padgate High pupil was involved with the college’s Spring Awakening concert along with several others but tried set design, front-of-house management and costume design.
“That was why I chose the course at Priestley because it gives you all that experience,” said Lauren.
“It has definitely helped me so far because I have a good understanding of all aspects of putting on a performance.
“The biggest skill I took away from my time at Priestley was problem solving.
“You have to think on your feet in this line of work. It can be chucking it down when you are working out of the boot of a car and you just have to know that you can get the job done.”
Pictured: Lauren and one of a model she ‘made up’ as an example of her work.
