MAKE-UP students descended on Beer and Branscombe to learn the tricks of their chosen trade.

The group of 34 students currently on a specialist make-up course at North Hertfordshire College took part in photo-shoots at St Winifred’s Church, Branscombe on Tuesday and Beer’s Pecorama on Wednesday.

The church was used for Hammer Horror shoot, and Wednesday had an Edwardian and bridal focus.

The five-day trip was part of a Work Based Learning Programme arranged by Fusion Waterside Studios. Pete Sheppard, managing director of the Bedfordshire company, said: “It’s to give them a head-start, by helping them develop a photographic portfolio.”

Using Beer YHA as their base, their itinerary included Monmouth Beach, Lyme Regis and getting up at dawn to shoot on Beer beach. Their work was assessed every evening in the photgraphic studio set up at the YHA.

Pete has been bringing students down for 10 years. “We donate a month out of our year, as it’s a dead time of year for us,” he said. “Fusion is a photo studio, but 50 per cent of our work is TV ads, so we’ve got a range of expertise and experience to pass onto the students.”