Godalming Nub News aims to support our community, promoting shops, businesses, charities, clubs and sports groups.

We profile some of these businesses and organisations regularly in a feature called 'Up Close in Godalming'.

Today we caught up with hair and makeup artist Gillian Katz, who is anticipating a busy summer ahead.

For many a would-be bride 2020 was a disaster, with weddings postponed, guest lists slashed or big days scrapped altogether.

But what of the people who, in ordinary times, helped to make the bride's - and the groom's - dream come true?

Gillian Katz is a wedding hair and makeup artist from Godalming, who has had to put her business on hold for the past 12 months.

She told Godalming Nub News that she is looking forward to seeing her regular clients again once restrictions are loosened next week.

And the enforced time away from the job she loves has seen her brushing up her skills: "I have been doing lot of tutorials from Wella," she laughs. "Colours change, techniques change: I am educating myself,  and I have discovered lots of beautiful new colours my clients will love when I an able to see them again. I love using new colours that not only look beautiful but also smell lovely."

Showbiz background.

For Gillian, working in hairstyling and makeup has been her dream job ever since she left school. She grew up in a showbusiness family: her father was the jazz pianist Dick Katz, who played with the Ray Ellington Quartet, her mother Valerie a singer on stage and film. Growing up, the glamour of showbiz was a big part of her life, and she has replicated that in her career, working, as she does, on film and TV sets, at the country's top hotels and for glossy magazine shoots. That talent for showbiz has also been passed down to her son Miles, who has inherited his grandparents' musical ability. He also, on one occasion, stood in as a pageboy at one of the weddings - and played the part to perfection! Gillian brings her passion and experience to her clients every day, whether it's their Big Day or a run-of-the-mill day of the week. She trained in hair cutting, colouring and styling at an exclusive Knightsbridge salon, and studied at technical college to gain her hair, nutrition and beauty qualifications.

She went on to work at Estee Lauder and at Harrods and Selfridges, the Savoy, The Dorchester and the Cumberland Hotel in central London, and is the preferred supplier to Great Fosters hotel in Egham.

She has even been called on by the Channel 4 show Don't Tell The Bride, a booking at which she had to turn up on set at 6am to weave her magic for the cameras.

'An honour'

Gillian says it's an 'honour' to be invited by women to present them at their best on their wedding day or big occasion. "Hair and beauty is the whole aspect of being a woman," she says. "People want to look really lovely and  a stunning version of themselves."

"I have done everything from a same-sex wedding where two girls got married to one where two guys got married. It's an honour to be with them on their special day."

She also runs Irresistible Headdresses for brides - and others - who want that extra bit of twinkling glamour for their big event.

If you're not planning on tying the knot, Gillian can also help you look your best with her cutting, colouring and threading services as well.

Last summer was stop-start in the business, she says. "I did a few weddings, but mainly cuts and colours. I was doing hair in my clients' gardens, and when I came home I would take all my clothes off and wash them. I have clients who have had to postpone and rebook, postpone and rebook. It's been very disjointed."

Missing people.

"What I have  missed over the lockdown is seeing people. I am very fond of my clients. It's an honour to see people every week and get to know them and their family." And with the country starting to open back up again from next week, Gillian says she will proceed with caution when working with clients. "I will make sure that I keep things to the highest standards, wearing a mask and a visor," she says. "I just don't feel it's safe otherwise." But even with those precautions in place, Gillian says, she will be able to continue making brides radiant on their wedding day, as well as helping a host of other clients look glamorous for a wide range of other events. She's expecting to be extremely busy for the next few weeks: "Everybody's desperate to get their hair done," she says. "And from August onwards it's looking very busy." Which is great news for both Gillian and her clients as we head - we hope - into a summer of celebration. To get in contact with Gillian, visit her website at

www.yourweddinghairandmakeup.co.uk

or find her on Facebook here.

You can visit the Irresistible Headdresses website here.

You can also call her on 07956 482248.