Meet the Team
Denise Elliott
Principal Makeup Artist / Hair Stylist & Owner
Denise Elliott is an award winning Makeup Artist based out of North Vancouver, B.C., specializing in bridal makeup, fashion, lifestyle and editorial. Her philosophy is all about bringing out a woman’s natural beauty by enhancing their best features to compliment her skin, style and personality.
After finishing her training at the renowned Blanche Macdonald Centre in 2005, Denise began applying her skills with top cosmetic lines, including Laura Mercier, Bobbi Brown, Stila, YSL, NARS and Giorgio Armani. In 2011 Denise struck out on her own, creating Denise Elliott Makeup Artistry, a mobile makeup and hair company. She has since been recognized as one of B.C’s top Makeup Artists at the BC Wedding Awards, winning the Best Wedding Makeup Artist in 2013 and again in 2016, while her team was honoured as finalists for Best Wedding Hair also in 2016. She has also worked with ABC’s Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe and actress Katie Cassidy.
In January 2017, Denise opened Denise Elliott Beauty Co., a boutique makeup and hair studio in North Vancouver. We are a full salon and makeup studio offering cut, colour, makeup application and lessons!
You can find Denise’s work featured in Vanity Fair, WedLuxe, BCLiving, Real Wedding Magazine, Magnolia Rouge, BC Business Magazine along with many blogs and other publications.
To check out Denise and the team’s work head over to Instagram: @deniseelliottbeautyco
Yvonne Hoelzel
Makeup Artist & Studio Manager
Yvonne is our studio manager, senior makeup artist and our German/ Australian import! She has been in the makeup industry for almost 10 years. Before her career behind cameras she worked as model for 11 years – where she grew her love for makeup, allowing her to pick every makeup artists’ brain about their tips and tricks. In 2009 she graduated from her one year makeup and hair program in Berlin, Germany. She gained her expertise at Fashion shows, editorials, TV commercials and film in Germany, Australia and Vancouver working with Vivienne Westwood, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Berlin and Sydney, and IKEA to name a few. In 2015 she decided to move to North Vancouver to start a new adventure and found the newly opened Denise Elliott Beauty Co. studio where she started supporting the team as a freelance makeup artist and one year later as a full time senior makeup artist.
Sarah Carr
Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist
*On maternity leave*
Sarah Carr is one of our talented senior makeup artists specializing in bridal makeup, fashion and photo shoots, and has recently returned home to Vancouver after working abroad in the UK. Sarah graduated in the top of her class with the Award of Overall Excellence from John Casablanca’s Art Institute in 2009 and went on to represent top cosmetic lines; MAC, Benefit and Stila. With over 10 years experience in the industry, she brings enthusiasm and professionalism to her work. Sarah’s favorite part of the job is helping women achieve a look that makes them feel like the prettiest, most confident version of themselves; this is something that continues to excite and fuel her passion for working in the industry she loves.
Emily Pedlow
Makeup Artist
Emily Pedlow is a senior makeup artist at Denise Elliott Beauty Co. After graduating from Blanche McDonald Centre in 2007, she went onto working with top retail cosmetic company Bobbi Brown. Her passion for makeup started as a young teenager collecting all the best makeup products to try at home and with family and friends. 7 years later, she has maintained a strong passion and drive to make everyone look and feel their best in the most natural way.
Kayla Konechny
Makeup Artist
Kayla is a senior makeup artist at Denise Elliott Beauty Co. She has been in the beauty industry for 9 years. After graduating from the makeup artistry diploma program at John Casablancas, she started her career in beauty working at a retail Beauty Boutique in North Vancouver working with high prestige cosmetic brands such as Lancôme, Clinique and Guerlain. Kayla is now excited to be a part of the team as it gives her a chance to meet people, build connections, and do what she loves best: working with makeup! It also allows her to share her passion of makeup with every client she works with making them feel and look beautiful!
Chelsea Doner
Hair Stylist & Colourist
Chelsea is one of our senior stylists on our team. She went to London School of Hairdressing and graduated in 2006 and has been doing hair ever since! She worked at Ravz West Coast for 7 years, then worked as a freelance mobile stylist. She started working with Denise Elliott Beauty Co. July 2017 helping with weddings and is now working as a full-time hairstylist and colorist at the studio. Her easy going personality makes all of her clients feel comfortable well taken care of!
Dove
Hair Stylist & Colourist
Christina Robson
Hair Stylist & Colourist
Christina has had a passion for the beauty industry since her high school days. She was lucky to be able to take a hair styling program throughout grade 10 to grade 12, which Christina graduated on the honor role. From there she went to John Casablanca’s and that lead to her licence from Beauty Council of Western Canada. After she got her licence she immediately started a 2 year stay at Suki’s where she both worked and studied. Through her education she became aware that her main focus would be on hair styling, her true passion. Along with following the latest styles and trends in the industry, her work has been featured in magazines showcasing her skill and devotion to the art.
Shelley Graham
Hairstylist & Colourist
coming soon.
Emma Rasmussen
Hair Stylist & Colourist
Having first ignited her passion for the hairstylist industry 14 years ago, Emma started her career in Queensland, Australia, she has since always had the desire to expand and share her knowledge in this artistically creative and ever-evolving industry, and after 5 years, she went to build on her experience in busy fast-paced Sydney city, for the next 6 years.
This growth continued as she set her sights on Vancouver in 2016, and shortly after, decided to explore the educational side of the industry, as a teaching assistant and substitute teacher at VCC. After 2 years, Emma found herself missing the vibrancy and energy of the salon environment, and found her way to Denise Elliott Beauty Co. in late December 2019. Dividing her time between the salon and the college environment, Emma enjoys all aspects of hair – from colouring, to cutting and all types of styling – she does however thoroughly enjoy colour corrections, balayage, and a good bouncy blowout!
Josie Wilkinson
Hair Stylist & Colourist
Josie strives to share her passion and creativity with every client that sits in her chair as they work together to obtain the look and balance each client dreams of. She believes every client deserves to feel beautiful and look beautiful before they leave. After completing her diploma in Hair Styling, Josie trained under some of Canada’s top award-winning stylist in the trendy Yorkville and Rosedale districts of Toronto. There she developed her creative and innovative skills in cutting, colouring and wedding hair styling. Newly relocated to Vancouver, Josie is excited to share her love for hair with the beautiful people of Canada’s west coast.
*On maternity leave*
Charlene Agnew
Makeup Artist
Charlene is thrilled to be part of the Denise Elliott team. She is a graduate of Blanche Macdonald’s Global program. Charlene also has a BFA in theatre and a B.ED from Simon Fraser University. Charlene started right away freelancing for Dior, where she fell in love with luxury brands. Her work has been published in several online and print magazines. Charlene finds much joy in making women feel and look beautiful. She is always thankful to be a part of such special occasions.
Alicia Chowen
Hair Stylist
Alicia has been in the hair industry for 7+ years and has developed her skills and techniques for the perfect blow-out on any hair-type. She is able to tame and smooth even the most curly and unruly hair thanks to her many years experience at blow-dry bars. Her vast experience in the Vancouver film industry has further enhanced her styling techniques, allowing her to work closely with the best in the industry. Alicia spends quite a lot of her time on set, but we are lucky to have her as a key member of our freelance team. She has become one of our top bridal hair specialist after working along side our team for the last 4 years. Her ultimate goal is to make her clients feel their best for their special day.
Chris Funk
Hair Stylist
Bio Coming Soon!!
Carolyn Wendell
Makeup Artist
Carolyn is a freelance make up artist and has been doing make up for over ten years. After graduating from Blanche Macdonald Center with honours, she started her career behind the camera doing Film and television before taking a permanent position with Lancôme as a key makeup artist for their traveling makeup team. She was later was invited to be a key player in the launch the very first Beauty Boutique store in North Vancouver. After taking a few years off to explore marketing and graphic design she is back doing was she loves and her passion.
“I love making people shine by enhancing their own features”
Melissa Chow
Hair Stylist
Mel’s love for hair began at the young age of 14. As a budding stylist, she enrolled in the Ace-It Career program where she graduated at the top of her class, gaining her Red Seal in 2009. She continued her training post-grad as an apprentice under some of Vancouver’s most influential stylists for two years. Her drive did not stop there, as she continued to pursue further training and work overseas in London, UK in 2016. She has work and trained with some of the industries leading brands including Davines, Kevin Murphy and Joico. She has the passion for wedding and special events styling offering and has been a great asset to the Denise Elliott Beauty Co. team since back in Vancouver.
Samantha O'Brien
Hair Stylist
Samantha has always had a passion for the beauty industry. Her interest began at a young age cutting her barbie dolls hair and stealing her grandmothers lipsticks when she wasn’t looking. Samantha has been working within the beauty industry for over 5 years exploring different aspects of the industry. She began her career attending the prestigious Blanche Macdonald school of cosmetology completing their Pro Hair program. After working in a hair salon for a year she realized that styling was her true passion, in particular working with brides. Samantha decided to go back to Blanche and complete their Freelance Make Up program. Now her main focus is making others feel beautiful for their most special moments including weddings, graduations, and everything in between.
Jessica Dickson
Makeup Artist
Jessica has always had a deep love for make-up. Even as a young girl, getting dressed up for dance competitions and shows, playing with all the make-up was just as exciting as the performance itself! Now, an accomplished and diverse make-up artist, she has successfully managed to turn that excitement and love into an incredible career spanning more than 10 years in roles such as Make-up Artist and Business Manager working with top brands such as Chanel and Christian Dior both in Vancouver and Internationally. A graduate of Blanche MacDonald Centre in Vancouver, BC in 2007, Jessica has utilized her education and training to grow into a Freelance Artist. She has had the privilege of meeting and working with many fantastic people and has been a part of so many wonderful bridal parties locally and abroad. She truly loves helping women of all backgrounds look and feel their very best by bringing out their natural beauty.
Kahlia Adams
Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist
Kahlia is a Makeup and hair artist based in West Vancouver, BC. She has been in the beauty industry for almost 10 years and after completing her education at Blanche Macdonald Center in 2009 in Makeup artistry she began cultivating her freelance makeup career as well as working at Mac Pro Cosmetics. She had the opportunity in 2014 to work as an on call artist at Global BC News and quickly worked her way to becoming the key artist for the Morning show where she was able to work with many high profile guests including Justin and Sophie Trudeau, Chantel Kreviazuk, Great Big Sea and Sherif Abdul Rehim. She continued working on many commercials, weddings and events in her spare time and through the years has been able to develop her skills in hair styling. She can now say that her passion and confidence in hair styling matches that of her makeup application. Whether doing corporate headshots, weddings, commercials, TV, film or events Kahlia brings a level of professionalism, attention to detail and enthusiasm to every job she works, no matter what hour of the day!
Brandy Kirkham
Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist
Brandy is a Vancouver based certified Makeup Artist and Esthetician who has been working in the beauty industry for over 15 years. The Wickaninnish Inn (Tofino), Four Seasons Resort (Whistler), and the Fairmont Pacific Rim (Vancouver) are some of the top resort spa’s Brandy has worked in, specializing in bridal makeup and personalized skincare. After graduating from the prestigious Blanche MacDonald Centre, Brandy went on to work for MAC cosmetics, and also worked as a trainer and educator for Jane Iredale mineral cosmetics. Brandy’s passion for makeup inspires her focus on natural beauty and a personalized client approach.
Atefah Shojaie
Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist
Andrea Salazar
Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist
Andrea was born and raised in Lima, Peru and moved to Vancouver 10 years ago to pursue her dream career. She has been inspired by makeup art and beauty for as long as she can remember. After working in different fields including fashion she decided to start a career in makeup artistry to follow her true passion. She’s a graduate from the renowned John Casablanca’s Institute of Applied Arts where she’s now an Instructor for their Makeup department. Her skills range from Bridal, Fashion, Runway, Photography, Commercial, Avant-garde to Hairstyling, Special Fx and Sculpting. Andrea has expanded her experience working in bridal and has worked with MAC Cosmetics and the Charlotte Tilbury team in Canada helping her to always be on top of trends and mastering divers looks for every skin tone and face shape.
Molly Etherington
Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist
With 20yrs experience as a makeup artist, Molly Etherington has worked in most fields of the makeup industry and continues to pursue all types of makeup on the journey of following her passion. A graduate of John Casablancas in 2001, some most notable jobs included working for MAC Selfridges in London U.K., makeup assist for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic opening & closing ceremonies, and 10yrs working for Global TV. Another passion and mainstay in her freelance career has always been makeup & Hair for brides, bridal parties, and glamorous events alike. Helping people look and feel their most beautiful is what she loves to do!!
Ali Pavlinovich
Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist
Ali Pavlinovich is an Australian born international make-up artist, working professionally in the industry for over 13 years.
Ali`s skills in creating beautiful faces has seen her working in editorial, advertising, theatre, commercials, tv/film and bridal. Her career has taken her across Australia, U.K and North America. Working for a large number of clients such as COACH New York, Hush Puppies, WHO magazine, NBC, Amazon Prime, CATS Musical Theatre production, Masterchef Australia and many more.
With Ali’s experience, love and passion for the industry her work is flawless, polished and beautifully applied.