Media Make-up student Abi 'shocked' by global award for her first job in film

Abi, who has just completed her three-year degree at York College’s University Centre, won the New Jersey Film Awards’ Best Special Effects Make-up prize in July 2025 for her work on the short film God & Country.

The 20-minute production, a psychological horror set during World War Two, has received worldwide acclaim, winning 20 awards and providing a perfect platform for Abi to showcase the talents she has nurtured on her College course.

On her reaction to receiving the recognition for her work on God & Country, Abi confessed: “It was quite a shock and I was so happy because it was the first film I’d worked on and it was just nice to see my name at the end on the credits. I was really pleased with how it turned out, though, in terms of my attention to detail and the continuity throughout the film and, winning the award, makes you realise that you can actually do the job. 

 “I had to study what people looked like from that era and there was a lot of dirtying down to make people look muddy and unwashed. I also did a scar on the priest’s face, another one on somebody’s collarbone and there was lots of cuts and blood, but creating the ghost character was probably my favourite.” 

Abi, now 20, was first inspired to work in media make-up when Lisa Parkinson – a former York College student herself – delivered a workshop during a visit to her primary school.

Lisa has since gone on to win a Best Make Up and Hair Design BAFTA in 2024 for her work on the ITV hit drama The Long Shadow.

With the department’s alumni also winning an Oscar (Nadia Stacey for Poor Things) and an Emmy (Freda Ellis for Wednesday) during the same year, Abi appreciates that York College can prove the springboard for great success in the industry. 

“I've always wanted to do make-up for films since primary school,” Abi explained. “I went to school with Lisa Parkinson’s daughter and she did a demonstration that really inspired me.

“I love creating things and creating looks, so I definitely knew this was the course I wanted to do. I also knew I wanted to be here as soon as I walked into the building at an Open Event. The feeling of this place is very welcoming and the tutors make it a great environment.”

Thanks to the teaching staff’s contacts and industry connections, Abi also welcomed the opportunity to gain external work experience and collaborate with other College departments and educational establishments. 

The chance to work on God & Country arose when the director Arnav Agarwal – then studying a Master’s in Film & Television Production at the University of York – was looking to recruit a make-up artist for the film. 

“The tutors asked if anybody was interested on (Microsoft) Teams,” Abi recalled. “It wasn’t paid work, but it was a great opportunity for me to get more experience and to get my work out there. 

“It was filmed in York and that first experience of working on a film set and seeing what it entails was great, because it’s what I want to do in the future. I learned how different filming angles can affect the make-up and I also worked closely with the director, because I’d plan out looks and then send them to him for checking.

“For a 20-minute film, I think we were on set for a full week and they were long days as well because, sometimes, we needed to shoot into the night. I’d be doing make-up in the middle of the woods then, so you have to learn to be adaptable, too!”

From that first job, Abi has since secured further work on three more short films – Last Call, As Seen on TV and Rutting.

On that last production – an arthouse sci-fi drama – Abi added: “That was really fun. I had to do a neck bite for that!

“It was filmed in somebody’s house, so I had to make sure no blood got on the carpet. All the films I have worked on have made me more confident and built on what I have learned in College, including things like doing make-up with people who have different skin tones.

“I’d encourage anybody on the course to take every opportunity that you can get even if you don’t feel confident, because I wasn’t when I started out at College, but I’m a lot more now. My first work experience was doing the make-up for Hallowscream (at York Maze).

“From there, I did some fashion shows and it’s good to put yourself out there and build up your portfolio.” 

As part of her coursework, Abi’s amazing axolotl mask also caused a stir in College and on our social media accounts after it led to an amphibious takeover of our reception Welcome Desk. 

“When I did the axolotl, it was really funny to see people’s reactions to it,” she said with a smile. “I also like the shock and disgust on people’s faces when you do a really realistic wound.”

A former Carleton High School pupil, Abi travelled into College from her home in Darrington, near Pontefract, and has also enjoyed the three-year journey that will culminate in her graduation at York Minster this September, believing she is leaving Sim Balk Lane with a complete skillset. 

“I’ve basically learned how to do everything,” she reasoned. “I've learned how to make wigs, prosthetics and moustaches. It’s impossible to list everything. 

"We’ve also worked on continuity, so you’d create a look and were then challenged to create the same look a few weeks later, because you need to be able to do that if you’re working in film and we did a module in our final year about starting your own business, which was really helpful.”

Abi went on to highlight the impact tutors Sharon Barrington and Emma Dobson have had on her impressive evolution as a media make-up artist, especially among smaller cohorts than might be expected at bigger universities.

“If you need help or advice, Sharon and Emma are always there,” Abi declared. “It’s such a nice feeling to be in that safe space with them and, because they have worked in the industry as well, you trust them.

“They definitely know what they’re doing and help turn your ideas into reality. You experiment on the course, but they are always there to show you different ways if needed and, with smaller classes, you feel seen and get more one-on-one contact to make sure you’re OK and on the right track.”

Having gained more traditional and practical skills on the course, too, Abi now intends to gain occasion make-up work while she seeks employment in film or TV production.

“That’s my dream and I’d love to do a horror film,” she said. “My final project at College focussed on untold ghost stories.

“I put out questionnaires and created scenes from four different stories that people told me. For one of them, I did a horse latex mask and another one was an old woman standing at the end of a bed.

“I collaborated with the college’s Film department with that and they did a slow clip of the ghost coming into the scene which looked really realistic.”

To learn more about our BA (Hons) Media Make-up, Special Effects & Hair Design course, click here

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