Alison has worked in the beauty industry for over sixteen years. At school she showed much more promise in the practical and creative subjects like art, woodwork and metalwork! 

In 1981 she enrolled onto a Fashion Diploma course at Wigan College of Technology. After two years of study, she was awarded an A Level (Design and Technology), a City & Guilds certificate (Pattern Cutting) and a DATEC Fashion Diploma.

Alison worked for Courtaulds in St Helens as a pattern technician and then as a designer of women's clothing in Manchester. She left the fashion industry after being made redundant and went to work in retail.

A move to North Wales in 1993 saw a change in career to beauty therapy. Alison began with a cosmetics course at Llandrillo College, and was then able to apply makeup on a professional basis for Brides. Alison had finally found her 'true vocation' and was able to translate her artistic talent into her work. Further beauty therapy qualifications followed. Education is on-going in the beauty industry, so Alison continued onwards, qualifying in electrolysis, aromatherapy and permanent cosmetics in later years. 

Alison's worked at salons in Wigan, Manchester, Rhuddlan and Lisburn, County Antrim.

Interesting fact: Whilst living in Northern Ireland, she worked as a make-up artist for top photographer David Campbell. She appeared on BBC Northern Ireland as a make-up artist in a documentary called 'Hot Hair', which was about two local hairdressing salons in Lisburn who were competing to win the 'L'Oreal Colour Competition', held at the Europa Hotel in Belfast (the most bombed hotel in Europe).

She moved to Chorley in 1999 and started a home-based salon called 'Aphrodite Beauty' in 2000.

In 2001 Alison won Holistic Beauty Therapist of the Year, a competition organised by Today's Therapist Magazine.

Becoming increasingly busy, she moved into salon premises in October 2004 and re-branded in 2006 to 'Urban Essential'. More recently, Alison has returned to a home-based treatment room, and reverted back to using her own name for her business.

"My clients know me by name and love coming to see me at home. It made sense!"

This has been a great move because in addition to working from home, Alison freelances around the north-west, carrying out permanent makeup procedures, bridal makeovers and vintage pinup photography. The best of both worlds!

Salon ranges: Skinceuticals, Medik8, Creative Nail Design and Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup. Alison believes it is essential to use the best products to back-up her salon treatments.