Our Educators
Our national education team are here to help you achieve your career goals, whether you are just starting out and want to learn new nail systems, or whether you are a seasoned nail tech just wanting to update your knowledge on what's new in the industry.
We offer in-salon training, where our educators come to you and your team, on-location training - where you go to our educators and online training. If you're unsure of what education solution is right for you and your team please email education@louellabelle.co.uk and one of our team will be able to assist. We look forward to growing your business with you.
Suzanne Clayton
Interim Head of Education
Suzanne has been in the nail and Beauty Industry for over 23 years with around 45 nail and beauty qualifications. Suzanne has worked in several salons and had several homes and high street salons for several years she took a nail team of 10 to London fashion week and worked at the Ibiza fashion festival as well as some crazy photo shoots. Suzanne's passion for the science behind products has grown over the years so she has naturally evolved into Education and raising standards. Suzanne also works as our Brand Development Manager helping to bring new products as well as Education to Louella belle and raising the profiles of our brands. Suzanne is qualified for International Educator status for Artistic and Footlogix and continues to further her knowledge. Suzanne has won “Nail tech of the year” at the Mk Beauty awards and has been a finalist in many other awards including Scratch stars 2022 where she was up for “The Nail Sector Visionary award” and enjoys writing articles for Industry magazines including PBL, Professional Beauty and Scratch.
Clare Hooson
Louella Belle Educator
Clare has been in the industry for 16 years and holds the latest Education and Training Level 3 Certificate.
As well as an Educator, Clare is a salon owner, SPMU and Dermal Filler trainer, she continues to expand her wealth of knowledge by attending continuous courses and guides trainees on the right path, enabling them to start work in the Beauty Industry.
Clare opened The Beauty Parlour and now has 8 employees which has grown from strength to strength. The salon strives for top class customer service, attention to detail and the ability to provide excellent treatments to all clients.
She strongly believes knowledge should be passed down to others to encourage learning, development and skills to set them off in the industry.
@thebeautyparlour_sanderstead
Bryony Cocksedge
On Maternity Leave
Bryony has worked within the beauty industry for over 12 years, starting her journey as a Spa Therapist for 6 years, then moving on to working as a Nail Technician, developing her skills to then becoming a full-time Educator where she taught in salons, spas and cruise ships as well as working on fashion shows and photoshoots as the brands’ session tech. After gaining more experience and skills within this role Bryony began coaching other Educators as the UK & Ireland Senior Educator as well as judging nail competitions such as Scratch Stars.
Abigail Simons
Louella Belle Educator
Running a successful business in Manchester specialising in bespoke nail art, with an NVQ 2 and 3 in beauty therapy, Abi has trained with Alisha Rimando Creative Director of Artistic Nail Design as well as with other well-known brands. Abi has also attended the Rock Hard Artistic World Tour which is a once a year event for Artistic Nail Design trainers world-wide to get together and attend a week long training course.
Linda Nordstorm
Co-Founder of Famous Names
Famous Names brings you the next generation of award-winning nail products. Highly acclaimed nail industry experts and Famous Names founders Jim and Linda Nordstrom introduce the ‘best in class’ nail products to nail professionals worldwide.
Michelle Brooks
Educator
Michelle has been in the industry for over 20 years with a successful salon with 7 staff and a separate Training Academy. Michelle has won multiple awards including Scratch stars “Educator of the Year 2022” and previously Nail Salon of the Year and Nail environment of the year. Michelle is fully qualified in teaching including her IQA assessors award and level 3 assessment. Michelle does it all when it comes to nails including pink and white Liquid & Powder and nail art including characters and scenes. Michelle is a regular in judging competitions including Scratch and Nailympia.
Claire Harris
Educator
Claire started her journey into the Industry when she had her first child who has just turned 22. She gained qualifications in acrylic, gel & fibreglass.
She has worked mainly performing gel polish alongside another job and decided many years later to throw herself into gaining her VTCT level 3 Nail technology qualification which led her to then gaining her level 4 Certificate in Education and training, Claire then went on to do Assessor Training. Claire has taught nails in various colleges and training centres as well as an assessor of students in training. Claire now works from her Garden cabin at home where she provides nail services and medi pedis using Footlogix which she fell in love with and has now gained her International training certificate to start teaching Footlogix! Its funny because a few years ago she didnt even like working on feet but when you see the transformation of Footlogix and how clients feel, its hard not to fall in love with the products
Sharon Baker
Educator
Sharon has been in the industry for over 20 years and is an all systems tech who is just as passionate about acrylic as she is gel, she first joined Louella belle 4 years ago as a Brand Ambassador. Sharon enjoys learning and sharing her experience so becoming an Educator was a natural step. Having taught under her own name training students previously she decided to join the LB team of Educators and share her passion and knowledge for the industry and believes you can never have enough knowledge. Sharon currently has a salon within a hotel and shares the space with several other techs. Part of Sharons week includes being a Session tech to celebrities a lot of which can't be named but we can tell you she's been doing Victoria Beckhams nails (using correction gel! )Sharon won Best pink and white, Best hardcore clear gel and Best gel on extensions at her Artistic International Educator training.
Jacqueline O'Sullivan
Louella Belle Educator
Jacqui is an award-winning Educator with proven teaching and motivational expertise and vast experience delivering first class training and assessments in nail technology, customer care, nail art and procedures within pressurised settings. She holds a BA (Hons) Degree in Education and is involved in judging numerous national and international nail competitions and is the lead nail judge for World Skills, the biggest vocational education and skills excellence event in the world. Jacqui has over 20 years’ experience in the industry and has worked with a number of awarding bodies and within the Further Education sector.
Gareth Hicks
Podiatrist
Gareth qualified as a Podiatrist in 1988. He worked within NHS (Gloucestershire & Shropshire) clinics in both community and hospital settings as well as running private clinics specialising in sports injuries and lower limb mechanics. Gareth now works in the commercial sector running his own consultancy, with diabetes being his main clinical interest and prevention his chief driver.
Gareth has presented on the topic of diabetic foot screening/examinations on over 500 occasions within the NHS and private settings. He has also been invited to conduct presentations in Ireland, Malta, Germany, Czech Republic, but mainly throughout the Gulf region and was once invited to speak at the British Embassy in Riyadh! In the UK he presents to GP groups, Practice Nurses and Health Care Assistants, within GP practices, community clinics and nursing homes.
Gareth co-authored “A photographic scale to aid appropriate foot skin care for people with diabetes” published in the Diabetic Foot Journal (2014).
Jade Gellen
Educator
I’ve worked in the nail and beauty industry for 16 years. Starting as an apprentice, I completed my NVQ level 2 and 3 and progressed onto completing my teaching and assessors qualification. I currently teach VTCT level 3 nail technology and beauty therapy massage along side working at beauty lounge which is where I’ve been from the beginning. I love that I can work in the salon treating clients as well as teaching.
My favourite artistic product to use is the artistic acrylic range. I love the consistency and how easy it is to work with. As a foot logix pedicurist, my favourite product to use is the sea weed scrub. I love how it smells, that it’s paraben free and when clients comment how lovely it feels on the feet.
Rachel Harrison
Educator
Rachel has been in the Nail and beauty industry for 17 years.
She holds a level 5 qualification in beauty therapy and management.
Rachel has been in the education side of beauty for over 10 years both with brands and NVQ training.
During her beauty career Rachel has worked within salons, from home and mobile.
For the last 7 years she has been based in her own salon and academy ‘Inspire by Rachel Beauty Clinic’.
Rachel is passionate about raising standards within the industry both from a salon and academy perspective and prides herself in providing a welcoming environment and a high standard of treatment.
Laura Smith
Educator
Hi, I'm Laura Smith. I am a 36 year old Mum of 2 boys and I live and work in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.
I have been a nail technician since I qualified from college in 2014. I worked part time in a salon for a short period, before becoming fully self employed. I worked around family life, being primarily mobile. As I became busier, I worked from home and by 2017 I became so busy I had to rent somewhere to work from. I love my job, I get alot of satisfaction from making my ladies feel better. A chat and a fresh gel mani works wonders on how we feel.
I have wanted to be an educator from the very start of my nail technician career. I love sharing my knowledge and have helped a couple fellow techs with a few issues they were struggling with within their businesses. It was so rewarding and I can't wait for this next chapter to begin.
The first Louella Belle product I love, is the Artistic Clear Correction Gel for its versatility and its strength, which can be put under or over Artistic Colour Gloss gel colours. I am also loving the longevity of Artistics' Bonding Gel, the hard skin removal results of the Footlogix Callus Softner spray and the smell and feel of the Dadi lotion and cuticle oil, all of which I use regularly in my salon.
Our Ambassadors
Our Brand Ambassadors are experts in their field and have a genuine passion for the products they use on their clients. They're here to help you to understand the Louella Belle brands as well as showcasing newness and sharing their top tips! Meet our amazing ambassadors below.
Anika Ahmed
Brand Ambassador
Anika is our Footlogix guru, passionate about feet and nails, she loves making people feel good about themselves. With 18 years in the industry, her Footlogix client transformations are incredible! Totally foot obsessed - Anika owns over 100 pairs of shoes! Anika also joined our Education team in 2020.
Metta Francis
Brand Ambassador
Metta has over 10 years’ experience as a nail technician/nail artist but also comes from a business & marketing background. With experience in both the tech world and running her own mobile nail business, Nails by Mets (@nailsbymets), Metta helped beauty professionals during lockdown with business workshops & masterclasses through the #NBMBizClub. Metta has also been nominated as a Scratch Stars Social Media Star of the Year finalist (2019-2021)
Laura Chree
Brand Ambassador
Our Rock Chick, Laura, is the owner of Chreeative Nails. In 2014, she started in the nail industry and Louella Belle has been present since day 1.
When she’s not in the salon transforming nails with IBX, she can be found at rock concerts
– she loves her music LOUD!
Julie West
Brand Ambassador
Julie West, also known as The Nail Fairy, has been a manicurist for 27 years. She specialises in natural nail care in her home salon, which she runs in her garden in Hornchurch, Essex. Julie is a massive fan of nail prep and spends most of her time perfecting cuticles. Her style is clean, coloured glossy nails with art kept simple and minimal.
Kay Kirsop
Brand Ambassador
Kay, also known as @kaycoopernailss has been in the nail industry for over a decade. Kay has has a colourful career, whilst running a successful mobile business, she has been a regular at London Fashion Week and worked with Cartier, Debenhams, ASOS, and Paco Rabanne.
Bella Porter
Brand Ambassador
Bella from Beauty Garage is the second half of the Salon Chat duo! She does it all, with five years’ experience as a nail technician, Sienna X spray tan trained and mother of a beautiful little girl!
Whilst she runs her home salon from her garage, Bella is excited to join the Louella Belle Team!
Sharon Baker
Brand Ambassador
Sharon has been in the nail and beauty industry for 20 years! Working with various celebrities including Amanda Holden and Rita Ora, as well as, travelling the country, photo shoots, and on TV shows including The X Factor and This Morning.
Super mum Sharon also runs a salon!
Georgia Hart
Brand Ambassador
Georgia started her career at Wah Nails in 2011. Georgia has had her work published in many publications including Vogue, Tatler and Elle.
She loves doing nail art with Artistic Colour Gloss and has manicured A-list celebrities including Reese Witherspoon, Sam Smith and Laura Dern!
Rachael Jackson
Brand Ambassador
Rachael has been working in the nail industry for 4 years and has recently just opened her own Beautiful salon along with her sister. She specialises in IBX and Artistic gel polish manicures. “I absolutely love Artistic Colour Gloss products! I am really looking forward to this new chapter and are thrilled to be asked to join Louellabelle as a Brand Ambassador for my favourite products!”
Rachel Herar
Brand Ambassador
I have been a beauty therapist for 22 years now, but have been self-employed for the last 10. I run my business from my summerhouse in my garden in West Yorkshire and a absolutely love it!
I offer a variety of treatments but I have a huge passion for natural nail care, skin and holistic therapy. I love treating holistically, it’s not just about the treatment for me.
I am also a qualified teacher, I taught in further education for 10 years.
In my spare time, I love to run, eat and drink gin!!
I am really excited to be working alongside all the brands that Louella Belle has to offer.
The evolve skincare is just what I have been looking for to compliment my treatments and I know my clients are just going to love the products
Lucy Jewell
Brand Ambassador
I have been in the beauty industry for 13 years and trained in all aspects of beauty, but specialise in luxury manicures, nail art, and pedicures.
After starting my business working from home, I now run a successful salon in greater Manchester and have done for the past 5 years. I’m so excited to be asked to be a brand ambassador for Louella belle, and work with the amazing brands they have to offer!
Zowie Biddescombe
Brand Ambassador
I’m Zowie a mum of 3 beautiful children and the owner of ZBnails. I started in the nail industry in 2018 coming from a Display, 3D Prop Maker & Artist background. I’m very passionate about the health of natural nails and love using Famous Names products. Artistic Colour Gloss is my go to Gel polish system and love the fact they have matching Nail Lacquer for Pedicures. I use many of the amazing brands from Louella Belle. My other Passion is Nail Art! Very excited to be joining the Louella Belle team as a Brand Ambassador. Looking forward to the next chapter of my Nail Career.
