Neil Hughes uses make-up, illusion and photography to create his art. He trained at The London College of Fashion for his degree in Costume and Make-up for the Performing Arts. He has since worked on numerous projects for film, theatre, commercial and performance art. Currently Neil finds time to be the lead lecturer of Fashion, Costume and Special effects make-up for the performing arts at Dudley College, inspiring his students to find their true love of art.

Neil believes that art should live to provoke wonder, imagination and discovery, whatever its medium, so the viewer is momentary transported.

The impact and transience of make up:

“I have long been intrigued by the power of implication that make-up has in contemporary society, its use can denote sexuality, masculinity, femininity, health and desire. Its historical use is equally fascinating as wearers used make-up to indicate wealth, status or even to threaten an opponent in battle. Its power to hide and distort personal identity is magical. It bestows the wearer with a new identity, effecting behaviour and confidence.”

“However, its temporary, fragile, nature means the new found personality has fleeting life, from birth to death. Within in a matter of hours the make up is washed away and there will be no proof that the creature ever existed. The canvas is once again clean leaving at most a photographic image on which to dwell.”