A MAKE-UP artist's shocking and striking designs have turned her "weird little hobby" into a flourishing business.

Belinda Maines, who found internet fame with her unusual face-painting skills, has now built up a business so successful she has already taken bookings for Halloween 2018.

The 24-year-old started out by posting pictures of faces she had painted on social media to a few friends, but after amassing an army of followers, she is struggling to keep up with the demand.

The talented mother-of-one creates the memorable images using her own brand of face paint – called Beauty by Belinda – which is vegan and animal cruelty free and will be launched online this weekend.

Belinda said she is completely booked up for Halloween this and has even taken bookings for 2018.

She' said "I love what I do, but I can't believe people have planned that far ahead - it is absolutely crazy.

"Halloween is definitely my busiest day of the year – the rest of the time it is mainly just make-up for photo-shoots. No-one wants to look like a lion or a zombie the rest of the year."

Belinda trained as a year as a make-up artist in Gateshead, before going freelance and moving into the niche of face-panting.

She has spent years practising a variety of looks on herself. But she has also had help from her patient boyfriend Robert, who lets her practice painting on him – but only if the designs are "manly" enough.

Belinda, of Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, said: "Our son Alfie, who is eight months, absolutely loves it too.

"People are always shocked when I show them my art, but that's what I go for – I like it to be shocking and to make a statement because that means people will remember it.

"I always enjoyed art at school and liked to be creative, so that has helped.

"Sometimes I do find it hard to find inspiration for the pieces, but I like to keep it as current as possible – for example, I have recently done a Beauty and the Beast themed look because the new film is coming out.

"I just can't believe that I am doing this for a living – I still think of it as my weird little hobby."