Award-winning make-up artist Paddy McGurgan has opened a make-up store in Newry. He spoke to Katrina Doran
MAKE-up Artist Paddy McGurgan's star is on the rise. The Armagh man has string of awards and accolades to his name and recently opened a second Make Up Pro Store at The Quays in Newry, less than a year after opening his first successful studio and retail stop in Belfast's city centre. Paddy is probably best known as the head makeup artist for Belfast Fashion Week, creating the stunning looks back stage at the catwalk shows. But he has an extensive list of worldwide accolades in bridal, commercial and fantasy make-up to his name. With his European Gold makeup award, he is recognised as one of Ireland's top make-up artists. His team also includes All-Ireland make up champion Caoimhe Curran, head make-up artist at the store in The Quays.
"I'm absolutely thrilled to have a store in Newry as we were already getting large numbers of people travelling for private lessons and courses to the Belfast store from Newry, Armagh and Co Louth," Paddy said. "I'm from Armagh myself, so it's nice to make the move to somewhere close to home. "My store isn't just about make-up applications for weddings or nights out, or indeed about selling make up; we're really all about education and training so will be offering private lessons on a one-to-one basis as well as professional make-up courses for those in the beauty industry wanting to boost their skills as well as those wanted to get into the world of make-up industry. "The store has been really busy and I think the girls in Newry are loving that they can come in and speak to a make-up artist and get pro-tips that they can use on their own make-up every day."
Make-up applications are definitely the most popular service, according to Paddy, with women coming in to have their make-up done for a night out or a wedding - brides and guests. "Both Caoimhe and Kerry are great at giving their clients tips on how to do their make-up as they go along so our customers are learning and picking up ideas as part of the process," he says. "A lot of girls see the likes of Kim Kardashan having her make-up done and the contouring that she uses to sculpt her face so they want to know how to do it too."
The most popular items in the Newry store at the Makeup Studio 'Face It Light' foundation and the Silk Perfection Powder. "We'll apply the powder to one side of the face so they can see how it gives a soft focus effect and then they just need to have that product right away," Paddy says. "It's a fantastic range that was originally used in Bollywood films so the pigmentation in the colour products is really strong and the foundations and powders give a flawless finish. "
? Paddy McGurgan's Make Up Pro Store is now open at The Quays Shopping Centre, Newry.