James Watt College Graduates Showcase Innovation In Glitz And Glamour

Posted: Monday, 02 May 2011

Two James Watt College graduates are giving back to the institution which helped them achieve success in the hair and beauty world. Backed by the likes of T in the Park, Vivienne Westwood and Michelle McManus of STV’s The Hour, Smujj studio are coming back to the college to share their secrets with its current crop of students.

Heather Gault, 27 from Greenock, and Jane Hamilton, 23 of Paisley, forged a friendship over a shared love of old school glitz and glamour, founding Smujj Studio in March 2010. Proving that hard work begins at home the girls, who studied HNC and HND Make-up artistry, first set up shop in Heather’s bedroom. However, their new business soon took off, propelling the girls into their very own city-based studio, conveniently positioned at the end of Glasgow’s Style Mile in St Enoch’s Square.
In the past year their skill and innovation has rewarded them work at the Electric Frog Festival and Club Noir, and most recently a musical collaboration with Glasgow band Selective Service. Michelle McManus liked the looks Smujj created for her so much she used them for her promotional shots in London, later appearing on the cover of Scottish Woman Magazine.
The girls will be returning to the college to demonstrate to budding hair and make up artists how to create styles that range from simple wedding make up to the extravagant over-the-top looks seen at nights like Club Noir. Offering use of their studio and in-house photographer, the girls will help students build their portfolios by giving them professional photographs of the looks they create.
Jane Hamilton, one half of the talented duo, commented: “Heather and I really wanted to put our skills into practice, and with the great personal relationship we have, decided to go for it in setting up our own business.
“We were initially inspired by Isobel Donald, our lecturer at the college, whose passion for the trade made us realise our dreams of becoming professional hair and make up artists. We learned from Isobel that it is vital to have an understanding of the full creative package, and that is something we want to show to the college’s current students.
“Being only too aware of how important it is to have a good portfolio, we want to give them the opportunity to do that. We will also show the students some secret tricks of the trade that they can use in whilst they study and in their future careers. When we were at college we never had access to anything external like this, and we are eager to give back to the establishment that shaped our careers.”