October Half Term Makeup Taster Courses at Elstree & Longcross

Three days inside a working film studio for 14 to 18 year olds.

If your teenager is curious about whether makeup artistry could be a real career, three days inside a working film studio will tell them more than a hundred YouTube tutorials. Brushstroke runs two three-day taster courses for 14-18 year olds over October half term. The special effects taster runs at both Elstree and Longcross studios. The Instaglam taster, focused on glamour and Instagram-ready looks, runs at Elstree only this time. The fee is £350 + VAT, and all materials are included.

Book a place

Why Spend Half Term at a Working Film Studio

Most half term courses run from school halls and beauty rooms. Ours don’t. Brushstroke’s two academies sit inside Elstree Studios in Borehamwood and Longcross Studios in Surrey, working studios where productions like House of the Dragon and EastEnders are filmed. The makeup artists who work on shows such as Gangs of London Season 4 and Wicked For Good teach with us, bringing that level of experience straight into the classroom.

That setting matters. Students arrive at the same gates the crews use, eat in the same canteens, and learn in classrooms a few corridors away from active productions. The tutors are working makeup artists, not generalist teachers, and they bring that week’s industry into the room.

The taster is a proper introduction, not a sales pitch. If your child decides three days was enough, fair enough. If it turns out to be the start of something bigger, the path into the 2-year BTEC and the wider Brushstroke world is well-trodden.

Get in Touch

Choose Your Course

3-Day SFX Taster Course

For the student who’s drawn to film, horror, theatre or anything with a bit of grit. This course covers cuts, grazes, black eyes, burns, blisters, scars and wounds, atmospheric special effects worked straight onto the skin. Prosthetic-making and application sit on the full 2-year course only, so we don’t cover those here.

This half term the SFX taster runs at both Elstree and Longcross, on the same three days.

A note for the parents: things get a bit bloody. We tell students not to wear anything they’d mind ruining.

Book SFX Taster

3-Day Instaglam Taster Course

For the student more interested in fashion, editorial and beauty content. Three days, three looks, building from the basics to a finished glamour look ready for the camera. Day one covers skincare prep, foundation, contouring and highlighting, the bones of everything that follows. Day two introduces a smoky eye paired with a soft nude lip, the kind of timeless evening look that turns up on every red carpet. Day three goes bolder with sharp eyeliner, a red lip and a finishing bit of sparkle.

No previous experience is needed. If your teenager already does makeup at home or runs a beauty Instagram, they’ll still find plenty new to take on.

The Instaglam taster runs at Elstree only this half term.

Book Instaglam Taster

October Half Term 2026 Dates and Locations

Course	Studio	Dates	Address
3-Day SFX Taster	Elstree (Hertfordshire)	26, 27, 28 October 2026	Shenley Road, Borehamwood WD6 1JG
3-Day SFX Taster	Longcross (Surrey)	26, 27, 28 October 2026	Chobham Lane, Chertsey KT16 0EE
3-Day Instaglam Taster	Elstree (Hertfordshire)	26, 27, 28 October 2026	Shenley Road, Borehamwood WD6 1JG

Getting to either studio is straightforward. Longcross sits directly on the Reading to Waterloo line with its own platform, so students walk straight off the train and into the studios, which suits families across south London, Surrey and the Reading line. Elstree is a ten-minute walk from Elstree & Borehamwood station, which is well-connected from St Albans, Radlett, Watford and Barnet, and suits north London, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Both studios have drop-off and pick-up points inside the gates.

What’s Included in the £350 + VAT Fee

All makeup, brushes and materials needed across the three days. Six hours of tuition per day, 10:30am to 3:30pm. Working professionals as tutors. Access to the studio canteen for lunch, with packed lunches welcome too, especially on the SFX course when no-one outside wants to sit near you.

Who the Courses Are For

The taster courses are open to students ideally aged 14 to 18 and in Year 10 or above, though we can sometimes accommodate students who are slightly younger or older. They suit a range of teenagers, including:

Sixth-form students building a portfolio for a creative degree or apprenticeship.
Year 11 leavers weighing up the September 2027 BTEC and wanting to test the water first.
Career-curious students who love makeup but have never worked in a professional setting.
Parents looking for something with more substance than a holiday club.

No previous experience or kit is required. Everything your child needs is provided.

Where the Taster Can Lead

For students who finish the three days wanting more, the taster is a natural first step towards the 2-Year BTEC Make-up and Hair Course, taught in the same studios by the same kind of working professionals.

The September 2027 intake is open now for students who want to finish school first. There is no obligation. Plenty of students treat the taster as a fun three days and leave it there. But if it sparks something, the path forward is clear and we are happy to talk it through.

Booking and Payment

The fee is £350 + VAT per course, with all materials included. Places are secured on a first-come, first-served basis and we recommend booking early, as the SFX taster in particular tends to go quickly.

To book or ask a question, call the studio directly or email the team:

Longcross (Surrey): 020 4611 2172
Elstree (Hertfordshire): 020 8324 2669
Email: [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child need any previous makeup experience to attend?

No. Both tasters are designed as a proper introduction and start from the basics. Complete beginners are welcome.

Can a student do both the SFX and Instaglam tasters in the same week?

Not this half term. Both courses run on the same three days, so a student takes one or the other. Most pick the one that suits their interests.

What should my child bring on the day?

Just themselves and a packed lunch if they prefer not to use the canteen. All makeup, brushes and materials are provided. On the SFX course we suggest old clothes, as things get a bit bloody.

How does drop-off and pick-up work?

Both studios have drop-off and pick-up points inside the gates. Days run 10:30am to 3:30pm.

What happens if my child wants to apply for the 2-year BTEC after the taster?

Speak to the tutors at the end of day three, or call the studio in the week after. We arrange a follow-up visit, talk you through the BTEC course, fees and start dates, and walk you through the enrolment process. There is no pressure.

How quickly do places go?

The Elstree SFX taster course tends to fill first, usually four to six weeks out. The Instaglam course follows a few weeks behind. We would suggest booking by late September for the October dates.

Is the £350 fee refundable?

The fee secures the place and is not refundable as standard, though we will always have a conversation if something significant comes up, like illness or a family emergency.

Is the course suitable for boys?

Yes, and we would encourage it. A growing number of working makeup and hair artists across film and TV are men, and both courses are designed gender-neutrally.