The jobs you NEVER KNEW EXISTED!

We speak to three women who shunned the norm and embarked on unusual career paths

- ASHLEIGH PAGE

THE WEDDING VEIL ARTIST

'IT'S A LABOUR OF LOVE'

Debbie Starr, 59, is a wedding veil artist. She lives in Foston, Lincolnshire.

Watching my daughter Alethea walk down the aisle in August last year, I beamed with pride. She looked stunning and, as her cathedral-length veil fanned out behind her, I couldn't help but grin. I'd spent 60 hours painstakingly hand-painting an intricate leaf design onto the fabric and it looked amazing.

For over 30 years I'd painted on silk as a hobby alongside my job as a nurse, so when my daughter asked me to paint her veil for her wedding, I thought it sounded brilliant.

Choosing a motif on behalf of her nickname, Leaf, I started sketching ideas straightaway. She wanted something unusual but elegant, and I was determined to deliver just what she had in mind.

After checking the sketch designs with my daughter, I created a mixture from a special paint formula and other materials. As I painted, I built layer on layer to create depth and detail.

I'd need to leave each individual layer to dry before adding another, so it was a real labour of love.

After Alethea's idea, I did some research and couldn't find anyone else offering hand-painted veils, so I decided to set up my own business, Star and Leaf.

A new purpose

Now, almost four years later, I'm still the only veil painter in the UK and I spend my days chatting with brides about their weddings, their passions, their partners, and creating designs that perfectly reflect them.

Sometimes that means elegant designs of flowers and leaves or the less conventional feathers, bold shapes and brightly coloured splotches.

And after their big day, I encourage newlyweds to use their veils as wall hangings, curtains or bed canopies. After all, they're pieces of art that truly reflect their personalities.