2020 is going to be an exciting year for a Cowdenbeath woman.

Nicola Hughes has been combining her working commitments with being a psychiatric nurse and a professional make up artist.

And support from her clients has helped her become a candidate for a major award!

Nicola, 38, from Hilton Road, has been nominated for one of the gongs in the Fife Retail Business Awards with the presentation night being held on Sunday February 23, at the Rothes Halls, Glenrothes.

This all follows on from her nomination earlier this year for Scotland's Best freelance Make-up Artist for 2019.

Said Nicola: "I qualified as a staff nurse in 2005 and have continued to enjoy helping people with challenges, however, and am now doing agency work on Mondays and Tuesdays, and Wednesday nights.

"I began my interest in being a make-up artist in 2010 and it really started with me working with Botox and things steadily grew and now my working week is shared between nursing and my business, Nicola MUA and Skin Specialist.

"My clients come largely from the Central Fife area and my husband and myself built a consultation hub in our garden which really has turned into a big success story as it provides a nice relaxing setting to help people get the make-up mix they are looking for."

Certainly Nicola's clients, who vary in range from 16 upwards, like what they are getting for she was nominated by them for the Fife Retail Business Awards and she is now through to finals night on February 23.

"Being nominated for the Best Freelance Make-up Artist in Scotland Award earlier this year was something I did not expect and now getting this nomination is something I never thought possible after qualifying as a professional make-up artist in 2018.

"I really get a lot of satisfaction helping people look at their best."

Looking ahead she added: "As 2020 develops I hope to be able to withdraw from psychiatric nursing and put everything into Nicola MUA and Skin Specialist.

"I also have some training events coming up next year, in Manchester, to enhance my skills in make up artistry so it is an important year for me.

"I am now looking forward to the Fife Retail Business Awards night for it will be quite an experience and I thank the clients who put me forward and the chance of being in final stages."