By Caroline Ivison

Last updated at 12:22, Tuesday, 09 October 2012

A nail salon owner has been in the spotlight at London Fashion Week.

Samantha Birkett-Leigh

Samantha Birkett-Leigh, who owns Bliss Nail Studio in Wilson Street, Workington, was part of a team of nail artists who worked on six shows including Tom Ford, Issa, Henrietta Lugdale and Antipodium.

Samantha, 28, said: “I didn’t even think about how big of an event it was at the time, people have asked me what it was like seeing celebrities and famous people and everything that was going on but I just went to do my job.

“It just felt like doing what I do everyday but in a different setting.

“I have always wanted to do session work but living up here it is not something you can get involved in and until recently I haven’t had the opportunity.”

Samantha’s colleague Liza Smith asked her to join her LS Runway Team, which also works on the television shows X Factor and Britain’s Next Top Model, for London Fashion Week.

She spent three days working around 12 hours a day at the shows.

They worked on more than 100 models using polish and Minx transfers on finger and toe nails.

She said: “It wasn’t glamorous for us at all because we are just there to do our job.

“We worked with the hair and make-up teams and we were briefed before each show about what the designers wanted and then you just got on with it.

“We had to work around hair and make-up so we had to get down on the floor and crawl under tables to get it done.

“I would definitely do it again and I am hoping to go to the next London Fashion Week in February,” added Samantha.

First published at 11:26, Tuesday, 09 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk