What makes London girls so unique in the way they experiment with make up?

London girls understand the power of make-up to define their persona and they aren’t afraid to express themselves in this way. Whether you’re an East End girl experimenting with make up in a conceptual way, a Chelsea ingénue with flushed cheeks and candy lips or a more groomed 9-5 girl, such as Kate Middleton, make-up can be an expression of what you stand for and where you come from. The really liberating thing about London is that you can play dress up with any of these personas – there are no rules – that’s why it’s such an incubator for present and future trends.

Do you find inspiration on the street? If so, where? What’s been the last thing that really caught your fashion eye whilst out and about in London?

Definitely, that’s where the trends usually start in fashion and make-up, be it the Boombox club kids who used paint, sequins and glitter to define a new look, the punk generation that defined a whole new “anti-fashion” style and used make-up to shock effect or Camden Market which is such a melting pot of different looks. I have a real eagle eye and always notice details about the way people dress or accessorise their look – I work such long hours that it’s often the way I window shop.

I think the last thing that caught my eye was a Sophie Hulme bag I spied on the arm of one of the fabulous Net-a-Porter girls backstage at one of the shows! I also lust after absolutely anything that Kate Moss wears – she so often rocks new trends before anyone else and always looks devastatingly amazing.

London has a history of eccentric fashion peacocks; are there any figures from London past or present that inspire your artistry?

So many! I guess if I had to choose though, it’s the glamour of the disco era mixed with the rock n’ roll of 60s and modern day London that I keep coming back to in my work – think Marianne Faithfull, Mary Quant, Ziggy Stardust and Jerry Hall in the 60’s and 70’s to today’s glam-rock icons such as Kate Moss.

What’s been your defining moment from 25 years of phenomenal London shows? (make up or otherwise!)

Nobody could shock and break the boundaries quite like Alexander McQueen. His vision brought extravagance and energy to the runways – I’m thinking of his 2001 VOSS show, which was so epic and ground-breaking. I was fortunate enough to work with him. We created a diva-warrior face inspired by the cat eyes of Egyptian royalty to compliment the dark, dynamic forms of his dresses. It was a bit of a make-up moment and I saw first-hand how he could whip up a media sensation through his creative vision.

Which London designers are your favourite partners in crime and why?

There are quite a few… Alice Temperley comes from a similar bohemian, creative stand point to me, so artistically there’s a lot of synergy. I take inspiration from her attention to the very smallest details in her garments and her eye for the best, most beautiful fabrics. She also has a really fun, naughty side so she is great to party with in Ibiza or hang out with in Notting Hill. I also work on the Burberry campaigns with Christopher Bailey – it is such an iconic UK brand and he is a real genius at adding a unique but distinctly British twist to a classic look. I’m also a big fan of Christpher Kane’s artistic creations that just make you dream, and Mark Fast who really understands how to make women feel breathtakingly beautiful.