Despite being busy designing and crafting costumes, attending Conventions and a recent visit to BBC RADIO 2, Beau kindly took time out from her schedule to feature in an exclusive interview,  so, let's begin,

 

What is your favourite fantasy/sci-fi?

 

I've always been a big fan of Star Wars when I first got the Video box set one Christmas many many moons ago, I do believe you can't beat the originals though.

 

What inspired you to begin making costumes?

 

While at University studying Fine Art, I introduced some of my handmade costumes to my work. All my art is centred around fantasy, so when I was introduced to Comic Cons and Cosplay it just escalated from there.  So I guess in a nutshell my art led me to it, and I haven’t looked back.

 

How long have you been making costumes?

 

Well, I have been making costumes since I can remember, but officially I started making Cosplay costumes at the end of October 2014.

 

How many costumes have you created?

 

I believe about 17, but only 4 armours with another in the making and the rest are fabric based.

 

What skills have you learned while making costumes?

 

Loads! I have always been an oil painter but now I can use most household materials and turn them into battle armour or prop weapons. I’ve also taught myself how to hand craft thermoplastics like worbla and polymorph and even fibre glass. My next step is to learn harder materials like metal, wood, lighting and mechanics.

 

Which costume creation has proved the most challenging?

 

The costume I am currently working on is proving to be difficult, its on a much larger scale than I am used to, but other than that my Alien Queen costume; I had 3 weeks to make it in time for the Comic Con so I had to apply what I had learnt from my Daedric armour and turn the queen into a human hybrid. The helmet was a different story altogether, I spent so long trying to figure out how to make it but I got there in the end. I hope to go back to this costume and make it into a more realistic Alien creature in the future.

 

Are there any tools or materials you wouldn’t be without?

 

Masking tape! I couldn’t Cosplay without this wonderful material, I don’t use it in the final product though, it’s only for making templates. A glue gun is pretty essential, a marker pen and a good pair of scissors. I couldn’t make armour without my heat gun and sander too.

 

Do you have any routines when working on costumes, such as listening to tunes and what would they be?

 

Most people say to me they have to sit and concentrate so they must sit in silence when they craft, me on the other hand I am always watching anime. I very rarely listen to music though.

 

Do you have a favourite costume?

 

It’s between my Alien Queen and Daedric armour. Daedric was my first build and it came out so well so it will always mean more to me. But I love the public’s reaction in my Alien queen.

 

Your Aliens costume is amazing, how long did it take you to design then create it?

 

This took me 3 weeks to make. I first stopped making it after I thought I wouldn’t have the time to finish to the standard I wanted for London Film Comic Con so I actually started on my Judge Fran costume (that I recently wore at London Super Comic Con a few weeks back) Then Sigourney Weaver was announced and I just knew I had to get this finished and have a photo with her. By this point I only had 3 weeks left so I worked day and night and had to settle on making it a human hybrid of the Alien Queen. But I like it, it’s my own design and there’s only one of its kind.

 

How do you safely transport fragile costumes such as the Alien?

 

My Alien Queen isn’t actually that fragile, it’s all made out of plastic so it’s pretty hard wearing. This costume doesn’t fit in a suit case though so it has to be transported by car; I can unscrew the spikes on the back and wrap the tail round in case I couldn’t travel by car but I try not to do that often! The helmet has to be carried by hand.

 

Any plans to introduce animatronics to costumes, such as the Alien’s snapping 2nd mouth?

 

I hope to level up my crafting skills but it’s finding the time to spend on animations. I’m currently introducing stilts into my work.

 

Now 3D print technology is here, would you use this resource for your costumes?

 

I would love to, but I would need to learn how to use the program to design components. For now however I have no need for that kind of tech.

 

Any projects you’re currently working on?

 

I am currently working on a Digi Môn called Gallant Môn for May MCM. This costume is on a bit larger scale to my previous works so this is a new venture, but I’m really enjoying it so far.

 

Any costume plans for the future? 

 

I have many in mind but I don’t like to announce anything until I’m half way through, but expect to see many costumes that haven’t been attempted yet. I like to keep things fresh as they say ha-ha.

 

You have not yet made a Star Wars themed costume, would you and what would it be?

 

Well I did make my own Stormtrooper armour out of Eva foam which I combined with my Alien Queen, but I’ve never worn it so. But I really want to make a General Grievous costume. He is my favourite character.