Next up in our Cooler folio series, where we show you what our image makers get up to when they’re not slaving away for Cooler is makeup artist Bea Sweet.

interview by Britta Burger

What made you want to become a makeup artist?
I am a classically trained opera singer, and it was either that or makeup. I was always so sure I wanted to study at The Royal College of Music… I ended up at The London College of Fashion. When I was little and my friends came round my house, I’d do their hair and makeup and dress them up and we’d take photos and pose and mess around, it was just something to do when you’re a kid. Later, my friend got scouted and was going on test shoots and asked me if I’d do her makeup for one of them one day, so I thought why not. I was at school and didn’t have anything better to do. The photographer liked my work, asked me to work with him some more, and I built a mini-portfolio that way. I guess it all started from there, I fell in to it.

Do you spend a lot of time thinking about your own look or do you mainly concentrate on creating looks for other people?
I create my looks on other people. I think every artist does, what you’re feeling will always be reflected in your work.

Who’d be in your dream shoot team?
I wish I had the opportunity to shoot Gladys Bentley. Unfortunately, she died a good 30 years before I was born.

What makeup look will be the biggest trend this summer?
Graphic lines, we saw them everywhere at LFW. Minimalist, statement makeup.

What’s the worst makeup mistake people make?
Wearing any. Sometimes it’s just as important to know when to strip it all back.

How would you describe your style as a makeup artist?
Clean, structured, considered.

How would you describe your personal style?
Evolving.

What would the world look like if you had total control over how people dress and do their hair and makeup?
I’d just give everyone a box of products and let them do their own thing, no instructions. The element of surprise is never to be underestimated.

Find more of Bea’s work on her website and blog…

…and in the gallery below where we’ve uploaded some of our favourite shoots she did for Cooler.