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10 mins

Fingers & feathers

Join team Scratch on a five-day Nail Safari adventure, where education & artistry were combined with animal antics to create an unforgettable event

T he fifth Nail Safari: Fingers & Feathers edition, left an indelible mark on the nail industry, as 33 nail rangers gathered for a week of inspiration, education and connection. Hosted just outside Cambridge at Shepreth Wildlife Park, the extraordinary event brought together a diverse array of nail professionals, including beginners, seasoned artists and award-winning veterans.

The attendees were treated to an incredible line-up of international educators: the UK’s Kirsty Meakin, Hazel Dixon, Antony Buckley, Dorota Palicka and Kamila Borowiec; Hong Kong’s Sandy Cheung and Max Estrada from the USA. These luminaries shared their expertise in a range of techniques, including mixed media, character painting and pink & white nails – using acrygel and liquid & powder systems.

This hands-on learning experience pushed participants’ creativity and technical skills to new heights. Attendees hailed from far and wide, with some travelling from Ireland and the Netherlands to be part of the transformative nail journey.

A unique blend of skills & wellness

Beyond the rigorous nail training, Nail Safari offered its ‘rangers’ something truly unique: wellness breaks featuring close encounters with animals. During these moments, participants could recharge and reconnect with nature. The event’s focus on personal wellbeing was woven throughout the week, ensuring that attendees left not only with new skills, but renewed spirits.

The essence of Nail Safari lies in its ability to merge skill development with personal connection. Organiser, Jennie Nippard, relays: “It was a sensational event and truly soulful week, with a group of awesome nail professionals who were a joy to be around. We were pleased to host 16 returners alongside newbies, who supported one another and grew in confidence. It was wonderful to see such unity from the group and we all left feeling happy and fulfilled.”

Scratch’s Helena (centre) with members of the Bat Team. L-R: Alex Fox, Catriona Leith, Jacqui O’Sullivan, Jennie Nippard and Kay Dodd.

Behind the scenes: the Bat Team

Nail Safari is orchestrated by the powerhouse ‘Bat Team’, comprising Marian Newman BEM, Jennie Nippard, Alex Fox, Catriona Leith, Kay Dodd and Jacqui O’Sullivan, with support from Sean O’Sullivan. These industry veterans bring a wealth of expertise and a shared passion for elevating the nail profession. As Nail Safari continues to grow, its unique blend of skill building and soul nurturing will undoubtedly inspire more nail professionals to join the adventure.

DAY 1

News & features writer, Lilly Delmage

I joined Scratch in July, so this was my first Nail Safari experience, and I stepped into Shepreth Wildlife Park not knowing what to expect. Bat Team member, Alex Fox, greeted attendees (known as ‘rangers’ for the week) while dressed in feathers, and escorted them into the event space. Fellow organisers opened proceedings in style, dancing into the room to P!nk’s ‘Get This Party Started’. Rangers searched for nametags on their allocated tables to discover whether they were in the Peacock, Kingfisher or Flamingo teams, and received a welcome pack containing an apron, goody bag and folder.

With the week’s education line-up concealed from pros, it was then time to announce the first guest educator: Scratch Stars Services to the Nail Industry winner 2024, Kirsty Meakin, who is no stranger to the event. She commented: “Every time I walk into Nail Safari, I feel an influx of positivity. It’s always full of amazing people, who are helpful and kind. I just love helping the rangers on their journeys.”

Kirsty’s renowned energy made for an exciting first masterclass, where the pro demonstrated how to craft an extreme butterfly nail. Explaining the creation, she revealed: “The nail is very long and beautiful, and involves lots of techniques – including inlays.” While the rangers learned new skills and techniques, I took a moment to admire their first homework submissions. Attendees had each been asked to bring along a nail creation inspired by their ‘spirit animal’, and the impressive selection ranged from flamingos and butterflies to tigers and snakes.

Nail by Dominique Sharpe.

The homework was just the start of the animal action, as each ranger received an animal experience during the week. Rachel Harrison and Dominique Sharpe were assigned the first of the week, and taken to the red panda enclosure: a request the duo made at the 2023 event. The pair fed the furry occupants and learned about the endangered species.

Back at base, attendees had stopped for a lunch break, taking time to wander the grounds and meet the park’s animal residents. This gave rangers the energy needed for the afternoon session, continuing their butterfly creations under Kirsty’s instruction, before the day wrapped with a science-focused discussion, courtesy of industry veteran, Marian Newman BEM.

DAY 2

Organiser team member, Alex Fox

Nail artist, Kamila Borowiec, captivated attendees with a three-hour character nail art class. Guiding nail rangers through the intricate process of composing and scaling cartoon characters onto nails, Kamila’s teaching style proved both engaging and transformative. Rangers produced unexpectedly detailed designs: a testament to her clear and accessible approach.

Since committing to her craft, Kamila has flourished in the competitive nail art arena. Her accolades, including multiple Scratch Stars Awards wins and The World’s Star Nail Artist runner-up title, highlight her incredible talent and dedication to her art. At Fingers & Feathers, Kamila didn’t just teach character art; she shared a piece of her journey, inspiring attendees to pursue their own paths with confidence and creativity.

In the afternoon session, nail stylist, Dorota Palicka, mesmerised attendees with a three-hour class on one stroke painting. She taught rangers how to create intricate petals and flowers using the transformative technique, which elevates nail designs to an enchanting level.

Renowned for her exquisite, detail-rich nail art, Dorota’s workshop was not just about mastering a skill, but inspiring creativity and precision. Her ability to blend technical expertise with artistic vision has solidified her reputation as one of the nail industry’s most respected educators, and her Nail Safari class was a testament to her talents as an artist and teacher. Participants left with newfound confidence in their ability to create floral designs: a hallmark of Dorota’s captivating style.

DAY 3

Editorial & partnerships director, Helena Biggs

The creativity within this industry never ceases to astound me, and I’m not just referring to nail designs and techniques. What is most admirable at every Nail Safari event is the thoughtfulness of the organising team, as their attention to detail and unmatched energy make each iteration unmissable.

On the third day of Fingers & Feathers, I was made to feel so welcome from the moment I set foot into Shepreth Wildlife Park. Kay Dodd and Catriona Leith decorated me in colourful feathers and a purple apron, initiating me into the Peacock team. The day’s proceedings kicked off with a hugging workshop, to ‘support the wellbeing’ of the rangers. It saw attendees don white t-shirts and paint their arms in bold colours, before hugging each other. This created hand and arm print patterns on their attire, on which I later sprayed ‘Nail Safari 2024’, as a memento of the event.

The focus for day three was fantasy nail art, and globally renowned, multi award-winning educator & brand owner, Hazel Dixon, took to the training table. “I showed how to craft Pascal, a chameleon character from the film Tangled, from start to finish,” Hazel reveals. “At the end of the session, we adhered the 3D creations to mini lanterns and lit up the room. The work produced was amazing!”

Nail techs continued to enjoy animal experiences during breaks in their artistry. Sponsor, Jade Barber of Nail & Beauty Excellence, joined me with her daughter, Misty, in the bat tunnel, where we learned about the creatures, their habits and watched them devour fruit kebabs. It was then time to head to the capybara pen, where I delighted in feeding vegetables to the furry friends, before taking a walk around the park.

The amalgamation of wellbeing activities with nail education and animal experiences makes for an incredible experience: one that delighted all rangers and made them eager to book onto next year’s event.

DAY 4

Organiser team member, Alex Fox

Thursday at Nail Safari began with an inspiring presentation by Liz Dams, education executive at Shepreth Wildlife Park. Shining a spotlight on the plight of hedgehogs, Liz shared insights into the zoo’s on-site hedgehog hospital and its international conservation projects. Impressively, the park has raised over £650,000 for global charities: a testament to its commitment to wildlife preservation.

Nails by Sue Rangeley.

Delegates learned practical ways to support these initiatives, including purchasing 2025 hedgehog calendars, made with seeded paper that can be planted to grow wildflowers and create habitats that directly benefit wildlife.

The morning transitioned seamlessly into education, starting with a three-hour class by Sandy Cheung, who introduced delegates to the intricacies of Chinese painting techniques. Her session featured two standout designs: a delicate goldfish, followed by stylish, Asian-inspired nail art. These quick yet striking looks, ideal for salon clients, showcased Sandy’s ability to combine beauty and functionality in her artistry, and the class left participants with the practical skills to create stunning designs to wow their clients.

The afternoon featured a session with Gelish’s European director of education, Antony Buckley. He demonstrated how to sculpt a traditional pink & white reverse French nail using Gelish PolyGel and ProHesion systems. The class emphasised precision, particularly for attendees interested in competing. Antony’s hands-on approach allowed delegates to refine their sculpting techniques and elevate their work to competition standards.

From learning about wildlife preservation to mastering intricate nail techniques, delegates experienced a day filled with creativity, purpose and skill development. The combination of expert educators and meaningful connections ensured that attendees left with not only new techniques, but a deeper appreciation for their craft and the world around them.

DAY 5

Deputy editor, Rebecca Hitchon

Nail Safari is an event I eagerly anticipate: it doesn’t get better than being surrounded by creative talent and animals – and on ‘party day’, excitement levels were high. Organisers and rangers had donned sparkly outfits and accessories, and before I knew it, silver gems were applied to my face. Meanwhile, Vonny Tuckley, owner of sponsor brand, Moyra UK, kicked off the day with a stamping demo.

The morning’s guest educator was Max Estrada. The founder & CEO of the Exclusive Nail Couture brand, known to his 545K Instagram followers as @kingofnail, shared his tips for crystal nail styling via a demo, before asking students to craft their own dazzling designs. “The class focused on pushing students’ creative limits and using tools like rhinestones to boost income,” Max explains. Rangers lined up with their crystallised tips to be judged by Max and Jacqui O’Sullivan, and Dominique Sharpe was awarded an Exclusive Nail Couture bundle for her work.

Rangers were then surprised with a visit from international make-up artist & BBC Glow Up star, James Mac, who was unveiled as the afternoon’s educator. Inspiring with his tales, the MUA showcased how to create a drag make-up look. While the nail pros tried their hands at their new skills on a mask, James snuck away to transform into his drag persona, Betti Touretti, and I paid a visit to feed the aardvarks and capybaras.

Awards were given out for exceptional achievements during the five-day event, and the Flamingo team was recognised for receiving the most ‘paw points’ for teamwork and nail skill. Rangers were asked to sit on the front row of a runway created by organisers, as lights dimmed and Betti Touretti burst through the doors, wowing with an energetic catwalk performance. Each team then took to the runway, flaunting their masks and nails created during the week.

“Nail Safari was a room of love, experimentation, creativity and passion. I’ve never felt as at home doing something,” James Mac shares. “It is exactly what the beauty industry is meant to be about.” The day ended with goodbyes, hugs and promises to see one another at Nail Safari’s 2025 iteration.

Crystal nails demoed by Max Estrada.

Nail Safari: Wild & Filed will take place 10-14 November 2025. For more information, message the organisers via social media:

/nailsafarieducationgroup @nailsafari

This article appears in December 2024

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This article appears in...
December 2024
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