Learn the lessons of styling Hollywood's biggest stars

Now an academy award-nominated make-up artist will lead a 30-strong team as Scotland's first-ever celebrity make-up school opens its doors.

The Edinburgh School of Media Make-Up, brainchild of businesswoman Alison Boyes and make-up artist Ailie Smith, has hired one of the industry's most in-demand professionals, Tina Earnshaw, to head the venture.

The New Town institution, which is open to complete beginners or those who have dabbled with brushes and grease paint in the past, has also snapped up Bafta and Oscar award-winning hair designer Jan Archibald to take lessons on perfect tresses.

Between them they will manage a make-up artist team - who transformed the stars of box-office hits including Harry Potter, Star Wars and James Bond - to demonstrate all the up-to-date tricks and techniques ranging from red-carpet glamour to gory special effects on the 14-week course.

Ms Boyes, who grew up in Portobello and moved back to the Capital last year, said: "Ailie developed the idea that she wanted to set up a school, but didn't have the business know-how, so we pooled our talents and put in 30,000 of our savings.

"The idea grabbed me as there is nothing like it in Scotland. People who want to be make-up artists are travelling to London and further afield.

"We reckon we can attract people on an international level because we're hiring some of the best make-up artists in the world, many of whom are working on big films at the moment.

"The beauty of hiring artists at the top of their game is it means they know the trainees have been taught all the up-to-date techniques.

"These kind of skills are in demand, so there are jobs. You have to be prepared to work your way up from the bottom, but there are great opportunities there. We've had lots of interest in the course."

Ms Smith, who is daughter of famous Glasgow film producer Iain Smith, added: "I thought there was a real gap in the market for this. I'm a make-up artist myself, but I'll mostly oversee the schooling. We've got a few great Scottish make-up artists, including Graham Johnston, who worked on the Bridget Jones films and Love Actually.

"Being a make-up artist isn't actually as glamorous as people imagine. We'll run through lots of different techniques on the course, but in the last two weeks we'll be focusing on special effects - black eyes, slashed throats and wounds that look like a bomb's gone off.

"We'll also do period beauty make-up and there'll be a lot of focus on hair. Trainees will get a lot more work if they've got a good grounding of hair."

Ms Earnshaw, who devised the make-up techniques on blockbuster Titanic and was Gwyneth Paltrow's personal make-up artist for seven years, said: "Ailie has really done her homework, so I'm happy to be a part of it. It will mean fantastic learning for the students and be fantastic for the industry."

She added: "If you want to be a successful make-up artist, you must know how to treat people properly. A runner on one set might be a producer one day. Hygiene is also very important, and artists must be tidy. Their station must be organised for quick and regular touch-ups."

The school is planning to be open for business next May. A maximum of 16 people can sign up to each 14-week run.

It costs 7000, which includes make-up box and Tina Earnshaw-brand make-up.