A Dream Job

A James Watt College graduate has landed her dream job less than one year after graduating, having secured a six-month hair and make-up artistry position at the Sydney Opera House with The Australian Opera Company.

Kayleigh Sutherland (22), from Edinburgh, studied HND Make-up Artistry, graduating in June 2010. During and after her studies, she built an impressive portfolio working with the Edinburgh Festival, T in the Park, the Scottish Opera and BBC Scotland.
Given the opportunity to do make-up and wig work with the Edinburgh Festival through her Make-up Artistry lecturer Isobel Donald, Kayleigh provided assistance to the Australian Opera Company in summer 2010. When a position arose with the Company a few months later, Kayleigh, having kept in contact with the Head Make-up artist, was recommended and offered the post.
Kayleigh will be making the move overseas to pursue a career in theatrical and special effects make-up artistry at the end of April, where she will be working at the iconic Sydney Opera House then on to a stint at the Melbourne Arts Centre.
Kayleigh, who credits this opportunity to the support network provided to her by the College lecturers, commented: “I have always had an interest in arts and crafts but was unsure what to do after leaving school. After my friend recommended the course at James Watt College, I applied.
“A few days into the course at James Watt, I knew this was the career I wanted to pursue. It merges all my interests, and I love how there isn’t a focus on one specific thing – you learn everything from wig-making to understanding how the make-up works with the outfits.
“Initially I wanted to practice in special effects, however later realised theatre work was where my interests lay. The spectacle and drama of it really lends itself to the over the top make-up looks that I tend to create.
“I found the lecturers brilliant and really encouraging. They supplied us with industry contacts which we would get work experience from. If it wasn’t for this, I wouldn’t have been given this once in a lifetime opportunity to work with the Australian Opera Company. My experience at the College really did open me up to a world of opportunity.”