Karen Newman

Based in the north of Scotland, I left my job as Business Services Manager within the NHS and retrained as a nail technician in 2002. Initially I worked from home, never for a second thinking I would become busy enough, or indeed good enough, to have my own salon. After 2 years I opened my first premises and employed staff. After 4 years the salon was so successful that I had to relocate to larger premises and expand the workforce.

In 2008 I completed by NVQ Levels 2&3 through the Denise Wright Training Academy. It was through this that Denise then invited me to judge at the Scottish Nail Technician Competitions.

In 2010-2012 I became an educator for Astonishing Nails. This decision was driven both by a desire to pass on what I had learned and provide a much needed quality training service in the North of Scotland.

In 2011 I completed my PTLLS Level 4 award further improving my teaching skills and proving my commitment to the industry.

I employed and trained nail technicians from basics to competition winners and love judging all categories of nail competitions, especially pink & whites and photographic.

In 2012, for personal reasons, I sold The Nail Studio business and based myself from a purpose built studio at home and became the Karen Newman Nails & Training Academy.

Throughout the years I have undergone both skills improvement 1-2-1 training and various Nail Art training courses with some of the industries best nail technicians, eg Hazel Dixon, Denise Wright and Ela Loszczyk. 

My qualifications include:

OPI Manicure Specialist

OPI Pedicure Specialist

NSI All Aspects of Acrylic Systems

NSI All Aspects of Gel Systems

NSI All Aspects of Silk & Fibreglass Systems

NSI Electric Filing Techniques

Biosculpture Gel to Advanced Level

NVQ Levels 2 & 3

PTLLS Level 4