Sir John’s Career: A Brief Timeline of the Makeup Artist’s Career

Sir John is a makeup artist and leader in the beauty industry; he’s created beauty looks for Beyoncé, Zendaya, Joan Smalls, and more celebrities. Originally from upstate New York, Sir John moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to study at American InterContinental University before returning to New York.

Throughout his twenty-plus-year career, he has worked with British makeup artists Pat McGrath and Charlotte Tilbury. He has also created some of Beyoncé’s most iconic looks, including the merlot lip she wore in her 2016 “Formation” music video and the sparkly eye she sported in her history-making 2018 performance at Coachella.

Sir John studied art from an early age and began his career in visual merchandising. Here is a breakdown of his journey to becoming a celebrity makeup artist:

• Education: Sir John studied art in school from an early age. He left upstate New York to attend college at American InterContinental University in Atlanta, Georgia. While in Atlanta at age eighteen, Sir John began his first full-time job working at the local makeup counter for the global beauty brand MAC.
• Starting in New York City: At age nineteen, MAC transferred Sir John to work out of New York City. He started doing makeup at a strip club in Astoria, Queens.
• Working with Pat McGrath: In 2010, while on a lunch break from doing makeup at the club, Sir John met one of Pat McGrath’s assistants. He soon had an opportunity to work with the legendary British makeup artist, first for a show in New York City and later during Milan Fashion Week.
• Assisting Charlotte Tilbury: Soon after Milan Fashion Week, Sir John began assisting makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury, another legend in the beauty industry. Naomi Campbell, a British supermodel, was his first celebrity client. Later that year, Tilbury introduced Sir John to Beyoncé at Tom Ford’s first womenswear show.
• Teaming up with Beyoncé: Beyoncé has worked with Sir John since 2010, and he has created some of her most iconic, showstopping looks.
• L’Oreal Paris: Besides being well-known for his makeup artistry for celebrity clients, Sir John is the US creative director for the cosmetics brand L’Oreal Paris.

Makeup artist Sir John has styled celebrities for the Met Gala in New York, the Oscars in Los Angeles, and other red carpet events. Here are a few of his most memorable looks:

1. 1. Joan Smalls’s smokey eyes: Sir John gave Joan Smalls a bold “denim smoke” smokey eyeshadow for the 2015 CFDA Fashion Awards, marked by vibrant cobalt hues.
   
2. 2. Beyoncé’s merlot lip: Released in 2016, “Formation”—Beyoncé’s visual album—featured a striking merlot lip stain.
3. 3. 2017 Grammy glow on Beyoncé: The singer’s golden glow was a memorable look at the Grammy Awards in 2017.
4. 4. Sparkly eye for Beyoncé at Coachella: Beyoncé’s performance at Coachella in 2018, a massive music festival held each year in Southern California, was a history-making show, as was her stunning sparkly eye makeup by Sir John.
5. 5. Pink hues for Zendaya and Storm Reid: Sir John created vibrant, dewy pink looks for on-screen sisters Zendaya and Storm Reid for their Love Magazine photoshoot in 2020.

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