Caroline Evans is a hair and makeup artist for all hair and skin types based in South Wales. She has experience in working with textured and Caucasian hairstyles and a passion for working with hair extensions and hairpieces, box braiding, plaiting, twisting, Bantu knots, locks, blocking and styling of wigs, setting and cutting and styling also can provide basic barbering and beard trim.
Her key skills also include makeup application, skincare, prosthetics pieces, covering tattoos and creating bruises and burns.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your journey to hair and makeup. Did you always want to work in this industry?
I’ve always had an interest in working in the hair and makeup industry, but I didn’t know where to start until my daughters joined the Bridgend Youth Theatre (BYT) in South Wales.
When I heard that BYT was putting on a production, I reached out to offer my help with hair and makeup. That’s when I learned about It’s My Shout, a short film project that takes place every summer.
Roger Burnell, the Managing Director, introduced me to this incredible initiative. It’s My Shout is a film production company dedicated to discovering and nurturing new talent for the film industry. Each year, they collaborate with local communities, drama groups, schools, and other organisations to produce six English-language films for BBC audiences, two Welsh-language films for S4C, and several documentaries.
Since I worked at a college, I was fortunate to have summers off, which allowed me to work on these films for five consecutive years. I started as a HMU trainee, gradually working my way up to becoming a mentor and eventually designing the hair and makeup for several projects.
This invaluable experience and the showreel I built helped me secure a spot in the WFTV Four Nations Mentoring Scheme in 2023. One of my fellow mentees, Erika Hossington, was working on a film in Rome and London, and she recommended me to the makeup designer. That recommendation led to my first professional job, which took me to Rome for eight weeks, followed by four weeks of filming in London!
Q: What do you love about working in film and television?
What I love most about working in film and television is the opportunity to connect and collaborate with other talented professionals in the industry. One of my biggest breaks came through a fellow mentee, Erika Hossington, the producer of This Time Next Year, which reached No. 1 on Netflix. She recommended me to the makeup designer, and that led to incredible opportunities.
I've had the honour of working with some of my idols, including Golda Rosheuvel, for whom I designed multiple hair and makeup looks. I've also worked with amazing talents like Anita Dobson, Mandip Gill, Lucien Laviscount, and many more. The thrill of seeing my name in the credits never gets old.
I also love the dynamic nature of the job—the early morning starts, late finishes, and the excitement of travelling to different locations. There's something deeply satisfying about getting the talent ready for filming, whether it's styling hair, applying makeup, prepping wigs, covering tattoos, or taking continuity photos to ensure everything matches the previous scenes. I also enjoy logging images in Sync On Set and supporting the makeup team in every way I can.
Another aspect I really enjoy is breaking down the script and creating the characters’ hair and makeup looks. It’s so rewarding to work as part of a team, collaborating with actors and other departments to bring the story to life. I also love getting the call for new projects, working with a fresh hair and makeup team, and staying connected with my previous colleagues.
One of the most exciting experiences for me was attending the Cannes Film Festival in 2024, where I had the chance to reconnect with my mentor, Lucy Price from Loop Talent, and meet Katie Bailiff, CEO of WFTV. These experiences are what make this career so fulfilling.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I ever got was to learn names of all the crew and key talent at your earliest opportunity and commit them to memory!
Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced was working and living in Rome. It was my first time being away from my family, and adjusting to life there was tough at first. I didn’t speak Italian, so communication was a major hurdle, which made it difficult to navigate both on set and in day-to-day life. The experience was challenging, but it also pushed me to adapt and grow in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
Q: What's next for you?
Next, I plan to continue building my portfolio with high-quality work that keeps me working on major productions. I’m focused on expanding my network and connecting with a top agent. Ultimately, I hope to land a role as a hair and makeup designer on a big movie production, where I can lead my own team!
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