Natalie Woods

Natalie Woods, course leader and senior lecturer for Special Make-Up Effects, is an experienced Industry based Make-Up artist and prop-maker within special effects.

Graduating in Special Effects for Film and TV, Natalie first developed her career in prop making alongside special effects make-up. After working in theatre, opera, commercial and TV for many years she worked her way up into working on film productions such as the Hollywood blockbuster and Oscar/BAFTA-nominated Guardians of the Galaxy.

She returned to the University of Bolton to teach mould making, sculpting and special make-up effects for the BDes in Special Effects for Film and TV but since then has developed a specialist course pathway ‘Special Make-Up Effects’ which she designed alongside other Industry professionals in the field.

Natalie admitted that starting off in the industry is difficult. She has now developed and designed Special Make-up Effects to allow her graduates to be as employable as possible by equipping them with essential skills needed in the industry, guiding them on etiquette and professionalism and exposing them to industry professionals who have a lot of correspondence with the university.

Natalie likes to keep up to date with industry practices and is keen to keep working on live projects whilst in her teaching career as she feels it is important to stay current with industry practice and materials. Natalie's experience of working behind the camera for film, television and theatre has aided her teaching at the University of Bolton with an emphasis to use her experience as a way to prepare students for Industry and expose them to real-life problem solving, industry professionals and working practices.