Kayleigh Sutherland (22), from Edinburgh, studied HND Make-up Artistry, graduating from the Greenock college in June 2010. During and after her studies, she built an impressive portfolio working with the Edinburgh Festival, T in the Park, the Scottish Opera and BBC Scotland.

Given the opportunity to do make-up and wig work with the Edinburgh Festival through her make-up artistry lecturer Isobel Donald, Kayleigh provided assistance to the Australian Opera Company in summer 2010. When a position arose with the company a few months later, Kayleigh, having kept in contact with the head make-up artist, was recommended and offered the post.

Kayleigh will be making the move overseas to pursue a career in theatrical and special effects make-up artistry at the end of April, where she will be working at the iconic Sydney Opera House then on to a stint at the Melbourne Arts Centre.

Kayleigh, who credits this opportunity to the support network provided to her by the college lecturers, said: “I have always had an interest in arts and crafts but was unsure what to do after leaving school. After my friend recommended the course at James Watt College, I applied.

“A few days into the course at James Watt, I knew this was the career I wanted to pursue. It merges all my interests, and I love how there isn’t a focus on one specific thing – you learn everything from wig-making to understanding how the make-up works with the outfits.

“Initially I wanted to practice in special effects, however I later realised theatre work was where my interests lay. The spectacle and drama of it really lends itself to the over-the-top make-up looks that I tend to create.

“I found the lecturers brilliant and really encouraging. They supplied us with industry contacts which we would get work experience from. If it wasn’t for this, I wouldn’t have been given this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with the Australian Opera Company. My experience at the college really did open me up to a world of opportunity.”