WHAT MAKES ASHBY ARTISTRY

Unique?

Our goal is to bring back the joy, elegance, and creativity to the world of makeup. In today's saturated social media landscape, we aim to revive the essence of makeup as a delightful, enriching, and confidence-boosting activity - for anyone! Regardless of your preference, be it light makeup to help you feel more radiant or something with a bit more pizazz to elevate your entire bridal look, we want to work with your vision!

We find our inspiration in the glamour of golden Hollywood and are dedicated to upholding the idea of timeless beauty. Back then, makeup was a luxury, helping movie stars and other celebrities portray themselves.

Chelsea Cannar Photography

Some used makeup as war-paint, to create a facade to the public and others used makeup in iconic ways to make statements. It’s these timeless trends which keep coming back time and time again. Icons like Marilyn Monroe and her daring red lipstick still influence our Makeup choices today! 

The makeup world is oversaturated. Which makes us feel overwhelmed and singled out when it comes to finding our own flow with makeup. No-one should ever feel like they are doing makeup wrong. Makeup is there to have fun with, to be as creative or simple as you like. It is a luxury tool we can use for our pleasure, not something we NEED to use to fit in.

Ladybirds Photography

MEET THE ARTIST

Hi I’m Felicity, (she/her), the owner and creator of Ashby Artistry and overall creative aficionado. Be it makeup, writing or artwork, I have always dove in head-first to the creative world. Ashby Artistry was born through a dream to combine all of my earthly loves into one, and hopefully create the most beautifully bespoke experiences for all my clients.

Even though creating characters and colourful, flamboyant makeup was where I started, I began training in Bridal Makeup in 2015 with a local makeup artist. 

I fell in love with the art and technicalities of professional makeup. How beautifully you can enhance someone’s features with the slight angle of a brush and shift in colour. I learnt that makeup doesn’t need to change you. It doesn’t need to make you look different at all, and although it can, the most impressive part of makeup is how it helps you to be ‘you’.

So, after 8 and a half years of working within the industry; Ashby Artistry was born. Weaving my degree and makeup artistry experience into one, in order to spark joy and create unique memories through the art of makeup.

Wether you’re here to see if we would be a good fit to work together or if you’re finding more about me after you’ve read some blog posts or seen my social media. Hi, it’s great to have you here and I hope I’ve been able to help you out in whatever way I can.

Makeup is my ikigai - my ‘reason to live’. It’s the culmination of all my creative endeavours and my huge motivation to help everyone feel comfortable in themselves - despite the oversaturated landscape of social media, which unfortunately, goes hand in hand with the beauty industry nowadays.

I’ve hidden behind makeup, changed my look to fit in with trends, created something bold to evoke a response and nearly gave up wearing it altogether during the pandemic. But makeup continues to be a fantastic creative outlet for me, enabling me to be more myself. 

I have a first class honours degree in Journalism and have always loved storytelling. News writing was never particularly for me, but magazines, fashion and the film world encompassed my hobbies growing up. I would spend hours recreating film and celebrity makeup in my bedroom as a young teenager. Trying to achieve the exact look and finish of my idols appearance. Back then, I viewed it as more of an ‘acting-led’ hobby (former theatre-kid over here), but as my talent grew - makeup seemed the obvious focus for a career.

I always had a natural flair for colour theory and product placement and I learned how to develop these qualities during volunteering at local theatre companies and school productions.

My BIGGEST makeup artist

Influences…

MAKEUP IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING

So, I will always maintain and update my products, education and knowledge to align with the demands of this ever changing industry. Below are are few industry leading professionals who I have been fortunate enough to learn from via masterclasses, courses or general influence via the industry or social media.

DANESSA MYRICKS

Danessa is practically makeup royalty! She has created so many innovative products which have truly altered the way we approach makeup for the better. Especially as she has been such an avid advocate and educator for makeup application on deeper and richer skintones.

I have completed the following courses with Danessa Myricks;

  • Mastering Makeup for Women of Color - Makeup Course

  • Blooming with Colour - Online Masterclass

ALEX BABSKY

Alex Babsky is a world-renowned makeup artist who works on many celebrities regularly for fashion and magazine photoshoots, runways, red-carpets or major award shows and events. Some of his most regular customers are Jodie Comer, Florence Pugh and Lashana Lynch.

I have completed the following courses with Alex Babsky;

  • Makeup Philosophy - Online Course

  • The Fundamentals of Makeup Application - Online Course

KATIE JANE HUGHES

KJH is one of my biggest inspirations for makeup artistry and how makeup should look. I saw her work for years before I realised who the artist was and when I finally made the connection - I was hooked. Katie is from the UK and lives in New York, she is the makeup artist for many famous faces such as Kylie Jenner, Dua Lipa, Hailey Bieber, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Ashley Graham. 

Her style of makeup is editorial, creative and boundary-pushing, whilst also keeping skin real and fresh. She has recently embraced the world of social media and I would highly recommend that you get watching if you are a makeup lover too.

I haven’t had the privilege of learning under Katie as of yet but had to mention her as one of my biggest influences in what I do.

JAMIE GENEVIEVE

I have been watching Jamie Genevieve for years. Well before she launched her makeup brand, VIEVE, and around the time I started my makeup career almost 10 years ago. 

I will always be very fond of Jamie as she helped me realise how accessible makeup is and how it can work for anyone. I used to feel very intimidated by the makeup industry but that really doesn’t need to be the case, you make it work for you!

I have completed many online masterclasses with Jamie via her brand, VIEVE and hope to attend an in-person session in the future.