A Brief History of Delamar Academy

Let Delamar Academy founder and Principal, Penny Delamar, tell you about herself and why she founded the school:

Penny DelamarAcademy Founder

"I left Art School with a deep love of both fashion and painting. In 1963 I joined the BBC and worked my way up from an assistant to become a Make-up Designer. After I went freelance in 1973, I gained experience working in Film, TV, Fashion, and on music videos and stills photography. Then after 1983 I spent a few years working exclusively on feature films such as "Santa Claus - The Movie", "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves", "Revolution", and "Indiana Jones and The Temple Of Doom", amongst others. During this time I became aware that there was a worrying lack of consistent training within the industry and standards were slipping.

This was the spur I needed and, in 1986, I started a make-up training academy with my actor husband David. We employed only the best make-up artists in the industry as tutors. These included Oscar, Bafta, and Lifetime Achievement Award winners.

The results since 1986 have been amazing. Many of our students are now the leading make-up artists in the industry today and winning awards all over the world. The courses continue to adapt to best answer the changing needs of the industry. By continuing to keep our class sizes small and by using different make-up artists to teach their specialised areas, our students not only gain knowledge and inspiration, but also invaluable contacts within the industry. There continue to be many opportunities for well trained make-up artists in the industry and it has been very rewarding for me to see my graduates excel in the exciting and creative world of media make-up."

The success of Delamar Academy led Penny to be commissioned to write "The Complete Make-Up Artist: Working in Film, Fashion, Television and Theatre". This book has been described as 'essential for anyone who wants to become a successful make-up artist' and, by one Amazon reviewer, as 'the best make up book I have read'. It's now in its Second Edition and has been translated into French and for the American market, making Penny a truly internationally renowned make-up expert.

A great team

Other members of the team at Delamar Academy include Managing Director Leda Shawyer and a faculty of top professional make-up artists who are all active in the industry. Like Penny, they are committed to ensuring you find a supportive environment that lets you focus fully on achieving a level of excellence in your make-up training.

Leda ShawyerManaging Director

"When I graduated from Exeter University with a degree in English and Greek and Roman Studies in 1996, I was looking forward to leaving academic studies behind and finding a more creative outlet. I joined the 12-week Complete Make-up Artist Course at Delamar Academy and loved every minute of it. Over the next 10 years, I worked mainly on TV dramas, such as "Band of Brothers", "Wire in The Blood", "Murder City", "55 Degrees North", and "EastEnders", as well as feature films, such as "Sleepy Hollow" and "Topsy Turvy". I began working at Delamar Academy in 2005 and love working with the students and helping them build up their confidence and, ultimately, launching them into the Film, TV, Theatre, and Fashion industries."

Learn about our great specialist tutors

"I have always had a love for art and after years of studying and experimenting with different creative courses and techniques I decided I wanted to find a creative course that would have good job prospects and bring together all the different aspects of art I love. When I found the Complete Make-up Artist Course at Delamar Academy I knew straight away it was the one for me. It covered such a wide range of skills and as it was all practical and hands on I knew it was what I needed as I believe the best way to learn a creative skill is to just get stuck in straight away and practice every day. The course proved to be everything I wished for and more. The tutors were all practising make-up artists which meant they had some great tips and advice about the industry which have proved really useful after finishing. The facilities were great and there was such a positive and friendly atmosphere I felt at ease straight away. After leaving the course I started gaining work experience straight away on films, music videos, and bodypainting events. Delamar have been so supportive since I left with advice and encouragement when needed and constant work experience opportunities. Since doing the course my life has been so exciting, never knowing what job will come next. One minute I am making up corpses in a graveyard, the next I'm doing beautiful make-up for a period drama! "

Sophia Cox