4 days of paint and glitter I really looked forward to, as we’d lost my pregnancy late on a few months earlier and needed some distraction – and this lovely bunch were the best & kindest help ever. So excuse me looking an even worse mess than usual.
This year Pashur, a fab American artist, had asked to come and teach there; he and Jay Bautista were amazing.
Pashur painting on Gracie
It was also Laurence’s birthday, and even though he was just back from the USA and heading up a Stag party the next day, he kindly drove over to model for me on the main body paint comp day.
As it was his 30th, Jennie arranged a beautiful cake (as one of LL’s superman body-paints) and I’d got a superman (in black so paint wouldn’t show!) dressing-gown for him. And we got the whole dining room to sing to him of course.

It was Eug’s birthday too
On the main paint comp day, I tried a bald cap (my 2nd ever attempt!) and facial prosthetics on LL to transform him into a svelte ‘The Rock’ from the Fantastic Four.
His back I attempted re-creating a comic page of how scientist Ben gets transformed in a cosmic space storm, set against that space storm.
The catwalk was a fab idea of Jennies and totally worth all her stress. Each artist had chosen music to suit their theme, whilst Shelley read out a prepared blurb on the design – good to hear the ideas and inspiration!

Simon Smith’s amazing Catwoman on Stephanie
I really enjoyed this paint, its not my usual style as ‘hero’ paints are generally a bit too easy (bright and simple) to do at competitions. But, seeing LL onstage getting the audience going to Queen’s “We will Rock You” as Shelley read out my blurb was FAB. I think he quite liked it to!
Laurence with Gracie as painted by Jennie Marquis- she won 3rd place!
He had to shower and dash off to drive hours to be head stag, poor soul.