Sitting in the pub the gang of four were hunched over the sticky table arguing about the duration of the new prosthetics school. Thiago was thumping the table, Christine, equal to the challenge; whilst Zorica and Joao were trying to keep the peace. As ever Mr. Miserable was late:
"What's all the commotion?" he asked. "Duration? Well that's simple, 8 weeks. Who wants a drink!"
Many aspiring makeup artists, career-changers and working MUAs want to learn prosthetic makeup for film and television, but cannot realistically step away from work, family or existing commitments for an entire year. At the same time, the screen industry needs artists who understand practical prosthetics: people who can work with materials, problem-solve, apply pieces carefully and create believable effects for camera.
That is why we created the 8 Week Prosthetics Course at The Prosthetics School.
It took time and nurturing to ensure that what we created was relevant. We did not wish to copy any other Makeup academy. Our ideas had to be fresh and purposeful. We wished to create a course that was finely balanced between time commitment and affordability.
Would teaching these SFX Prosthetics makeup skills help the students gain work in the film & TV industry?
Our 8 week course was born from a collaboration between Christine Blundell Make-up Academy, with 20 years of experience training hair and makeup artists for film and television, Tilt Professional Makeup, with 13 years in the UK screen industry and the team behind The Prosthetics Event, Europe’s largest event of its kind.
Together, we wanted to create something focused, intensive and genuinely practical — a course that gives students the opportunity to learn prosthetics through practising it and learning about it in person, while being taught by the leading UK SFX designers and artists, like Stuart Bray.
Prosthetics Is a Physical Craft
Prosthetic makeup is not something you can fully master through watching an online tutorial.
You need to feel the materials in your hands. You need to understand how products behave, how edges move on skin, how colour changes under light, and how small adjustments can completely alter the realism of an application.
A tutor can explain a technique online, but they cannot properly correct the pressure of your hand, the thickness of your blend, the way you are handling a piece, or the choices you are making in the moment.
These details matter.
In prosthetics, the learning often happens in the small corrections: the angle of a tool, the timing of a material, the way an edge is softened, or the moment you realise why something has not worked. That kind of learning needs to happen in person.
Why We Do Not Offer Online Courses
At The Prosthetics School, we do not run online prosthetics courses.
This is a deliberate choice.
We believe students learn best in a classroom environment where they can interact with tutors, ask questions as they work, watch demonstrations closely and learn from the people around them. Prosthetics is a shared, practical process. Students benefit from seeing not only their own progress, but also the successes, mistakes and problem-solving of their fellow cohort.
In a class environment, you are not learning in isolation. You are part of a working room — observing, discussing, testing, correcting and developing practical confidence.
For us, this is essential.
Why an 8 Week Course?
The 8 Week Prosthetics Course was designed for people who want serious practical training, but who may not be able to commit to a full year of study.
It offers a focused introduction to the essential skills needed to begin understanding prosthetic makeup for screen. Students are taught key techniques, product knowledge and practical processes used within prosthetic makeup effects, with an emphasis on real application rather than academic theory.
The aim is not simply to tell students how prosthetics work. It is to let them experience the process for themselves.
Who Is the Course For?
The course is suitable for beginners who want to learn prosthetic makeup, as well as makeup artists looking to upskill for film, television or creative work.
Whether you are starting from the beginning or adding prosthetics to an existing makeup skill set, the course is designed to give you practical foundations, confidence with materials and a clearer understanding of what prosthetic makeup involves.
Learning by Doing
Prosthetics requires patience, observation and practice. It is a craft built through repetition and correction.
That is why our course is taught face to face, in a professional training environment, with experienced tutors guiding students through the process.
The 8 Week Prosthetics Course exists because we believe intensive training can be powerful — but only when it is genuinely practical.
For anyone serious about learning prosthetic makeup for film and television, we believe there is no substitute for being in the room, working with the materials, asking questions, making mistakes and learning the craft with your hands.
Our current 8 week course finishes at the end of July and next one starts on 7th September - contact us to reserve your place, spaces are filling up quickly!
Petar Agbaba (Author)
A highly professional director at the Christine Blundell Make-up Academy & The Prosthetics School, Petar Agbaba brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his writing. With an in-depth knowledge of makeup courses and techniques, he crafts insightful, well-researched content that resonates with readers.
Start Your Journey In Prosthetics Makeup
Train in industry-standard special effects techniques and develop the skills needed to create realistic prosthetics for screen.