impressed with the teaching methods soleft and was fortunate enough to be introduced to the make-up artist PaulaOwen. She asked me to assist her, whichwas a far better learning experience. Myfirst job was assisting Paula in doingAnnie Lennox’s make-up for a gig at theAlbert Hall, which was amazing.O: Although I’d started my PsychologyDegree, I didn’t have a grant so had towork to support myself. I was offered thechance to run Dover Street Wine Bar atthe height of the 80s - it was great fun butvery hard work. I’d finish at 4am and thenhad to be up again for lectures at 9am.

esprit: Was it challenging being amake-up artist?F: Actually, it was quite frustrating and insome ways, even harder than it is now.The industry was much smaller then and,as a result, could be cliquey. You wereoften at the end of the chain after themodel, photographer, stylist and hairdresser. You had to be tactful andsuch a diplomat. The good thing was thatI found I had the ability to work with people who were tricky and enjoyedbeing a negotiator and a peacemaker.

esprit: What made you decide to take the step to start your own PR agency?F: In 1994, I moved away from make-upand started in PR with Karen Berman,then Margot Walton-Clark and after thatwith Caroline Neville. They were all smallto medium agencies at the time, whichenabled me to gain invaluable, hands-on

livesinbeauty

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experience. Six years later, in 1994,Owen and I knew that we wanted to worktogether, combining my beauty and communications experience with his writing and strategy skills and began toconsider the idea of having our ownagency. We decided to take some time off to formulate a plan. We went to SriLanka for a month, which was one of themost amazing times in our lives. On ourfirst day back in London, I had a call fromthe specialist consultant, Annie Bruce,who was launching Bobbi Brown in theUK. She’d been told that I was the personto talk to and Bobbi Brown became ourfirst client.

esprit: Your profile in the beautybusiness exploded when you wereappointed to represent BobbiBrown, how excited were you?F: This was a perfect way for me to combine my experience as a make-upartist with beauty PR.O: We knew this was a phenomenalopportunity. Bobbi was becoming big inthe States but had very little awareness in the UK.

esprit: What has been your mostexciting campaign?F: We’ve been extremely fortunate andprivileged to have launched and/orworked with many industry-definingbrands including Bobbi Brown, NARS,Space NK, Liz Earle, Kiehl’s, Nails Inc,philosophy, Crème de la Mer, Benefit,Stila, Chantecaille, E’spa, John Freida,Miller Harris and Eve Lom, so it would bevirtually impossible to choose.One particular highlight was launchingBobbi Brown into the Asian market, whichwas very exciting and challenging at the time.O: The Kevyn Aucoin launch was anamazing project - Kevyn was such a talented and inspiring man. The NarsBook launch in New York was anotherfantastic project - stressful but immenselystimulating and rewarding.

esprit: Were you ever tempted towork in New York?F: If I were to have one regret that wouldbe it. I never tire of the energy and stimulation of being there.O: It is important to stay focused on ourbusiness here. We are lucky that many ofour clients, and the contacts we hadmade over the years, are based in New

iona Dowal began her beauty workinglife as a make-up artist 25 years ago,while Owen Walker took a slightly different route. He decided not to

pursue his original career path in aPsychology Degree, in favour of his passion for creative writing. In 1984, theyformed Dowal Walker PR, then mergedwith Modus in 2006. In November 2011,they decided to re-launch The DowalWalker Agency to take advantage ofsome exciting new opportunities.

esprit: When you were both atschool, what did you plan on doing?F: I had no definitive plan at that stage,but always knew I would be involved inbeauty.O: I was always interested in writing. Myfavourite subjects were English and economics, which have been extremelyuseful in our business.

esprit: When you started out, did youever consider you’d eventually haveyour own PR company?F: No, but I knew I definitely wanted to be in PR.O: Not at all, if anything, I expected to bea creative writer.

esprit: What was your first job?F: I’d originally come down from Scotlandto do a make-up course but ended upworking in a bank in an administrativerole for the London Foreign Exchange. I actually really enjoyed it and lovedtransferring foreign cash to different countries. I began the course but wasn’t

York so we have lots of reasons to visit,which gives us the best of both worlds.

esprit: How do you think the beautybusiness has changed since youstarted?F: So many more brands have launchedin the past 15-20 years - the competitionhas never been fiercer, but equally, someof the brand innovation has never beengreater - things we could have neverimagined. For example, brands like Bobbi Brown, Space NK, Nars andKeihl’s, were, and still are, exciting corporate brands and there are a lot ofnew brands since then.However, one thing that remains consistent, is that you’re really only asgood as your relationships with the people you work with. Look after them -that’s what makes the job possible.O: The biggest difference is the digitalrevolution; it’s changed the way we lookat the written word.

esprit: Which people/companieshave inspired you?F: I can honestly say that I have beeninspired by all of the business ownersand clients I have worked with or I couldn’t have done my job. O: It’s often the business drivers and thepeople behind the scenes that can be the most inspiring. The successful businesses we have worked with alwayshave a strong partnership at the helm - acreative figurehead and a brilliant strategist/marketing expert, supportingand driving them in the background.

esprit: Do you consider any productsthat you have had as great beautyinnovations?F: Liz Earle’s Clean & Polish, JohnFreida’s Frizz Ease, Nars The Multipleand Nails Inc Magnetic Nail Polish.

esprit: How is working and livingtogether? You are literally together24/7 and always appear calmF: I firmly believe that you are lucky if you get one good break in life and ours isthat we love our work and love workingtogether. You must have respect, bepatient and fundamentally, be bestfriends.O: It’s so easy.

esprit: Do you know when it’s time totake a break or do you find that work

fThis seeminglyunflappable duo work

and live together and are admired

throughout the beauty industry for

their professionalism,dedication to work

and friendliness.Fiona Dowal and

Owen Walker talk toesprit about theirwork and life and

how, 26 years later,they continue to

enjoy their work,their own company

and the beauty business

27

carries on after the day is done?O: We’ve got much better. For the first 10years we couldn’t switch off and neverstopped working. Christmas was our onlytime off, but we’re more balanced now.

esprit: So after all this time, it’s backto Dowal Walker again and being asmall, specialised company?O: We’re really enjoying being morehands-on again and being able to utiliseour experience by being more involvedwith overall brand development for ourclients. In a smaller environment, youalso have the opportunity to work moreclosely with your team, mentoring andtraining them, which is an aspect of thejob that we both love. We’re very proud ofthe people we’ve helped along the way.

dream teamthe

dowalwalker

This partnership is all about respect and professionalism. FionaDowal and Owen Walker are uniqueand important, as they not onlyhave a true understanding of thebeauty business, but of business in general. They also understandthat the baton has to be passed on.They have helped and shaped people in PR - and will continue todo so - for future generations.

Owen Walker and Fiona Dowal - reformedDowal Walker PR in 2011

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