The Make-up Boutique: Make-Up by Claire Mc Evoy, Belfast Northern Ireland


	Claire Mc Evoy is fast becoming recognised as one of Ireland’s top make-up artists. Her professional career began just over 7 years ago after completing a fashion and photographic make-up diploma at the Oonagh Boman School of Make-Up, but her roots have always lay in the artistic domain with a background in art history. After qualifying Claire was employed as in store artist at Space.Nk on the Lisburn Rd, she worked there for three years and in that time learned a great deal about the make-up business and also developed her skills as an artist. She travelled to London on many occasions to meet make-up artists from various high profile make-up brands and attended work shops on technique and trends etc, learning from the best make-up professionals in the country. During her time at Space.Nk she was recommended as one of the top artists to visit in N. Ireland in glossies such as Harpers and Queen and Tatler and she began to develop a strong freelance reputation in her own right. Claire is especially interested in photographic make-up and is regularly called upon to work on photo shoots for local magazines such as Wedding Journal, Ulster Bride, Northern Woman and Ulster Tatler and also works with local model agency Style Academy on fashion shows and photographic make-up for models’ portfolios. She has built up a strong working dynamic with photographers such as Gavin Millar, Khara Pringle and Jim Crone and this has allowed her to perfect her skills as a photographic and fashion make-up artist. Her commercial career as seen her work featured on advertising campaigns for a wide range of companies such as Lunns, The Outlet, Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau, Bank of Ireland, Forestside and television advertisements for Castle court. As well as acting as on shoot artist, local press often call upon Claire’s expertise to advise on expert make-over panels and to contribute to the beauty pages on topics such as current trends in the fashion industry. Most recently she has been asked back to the school where she trained to work as a part time tutor, passing on her skills and experience to other budding make-up artists. She opened The Make-Up Boutique in 2005 on the Lisburn Road in Belfast which offered specialised and professional advice for people when choosing cosmetics and was home to Claire’s first studio. More recently she has decided to downsize the retail side of her business to make this service even more specialised and intends to relocate to studio based premises some time next year, however in the mean time she continues to offer appointments for occasion make-up, lessons and wedding make-up on a callout basis at client’s own homes and to concentrate on her photographic freelance work.