TECH TALK: Meet Sarah Kay Abbott, Scratch Stars Polish & Paint Artist of the Year

Kirkaldy-based nail stylist, Sarah Kay Abbott, scooped the Scratch Stars Polish & Paint Artist of the Year title at the Scratch Stars Party 20/21 owing to her passion for the craft, incredible artistic skills and keen focus on client care.

“I wasn’t initially going to apply, but I saw it advertised one day and I just had this feeling that I should just go for it,” Sarah reveals. “I wanted to apply to see if my skills were as good as the other amazingly talented techs and nail artists that I had seen previously at the Scratch Stars Awards.”

Scratch magazine launched the Scratch Stars Awards in 2012 to highlight incredible techs, salons, teams and businesses across the UK nail sector, with Sarah choosing to enter two artistic categories, Polish & Paint Artist of the Year and Mixed Media Artist of the Year.

Sarah was thrilled to be selected as a finalist in both, as this was one of the most important things on her bucket list that she wanted to accomplish, in addition to going one step further and winning one of the categories.

The judging process for both awards required a design to be created over a live Zoom session in just 60 minutes, with the theme for the Polish & Paint Artist category being ‘I Have A Dream’. However, the pressure of choosing a design was palpable, and Sarah kept changing her mind about what to create. “I sketched out a few ideas, but I just couldn’t decide what I wanted,” she reveals. “I would paint Martin Luther King’s face, then add a quote. But I really wasn’t happy with how it was looking, so a week before the judging process I changed my entire design,” Sarah reveals.

Sarah nailed the look, and before she knew it, she was excitedly travelling to the Scratch Stars Awards with her best friend. “I was so looking forward to meeting new people and to enjoy the night, as this was the first time I’d had an evening out since the pandemic began,” says Sarah.

When the categories were announced and the finalists’ names read out, Sarah felt honoured to see herself on screen besides other very talented techs. “When it was time to announce the winner, I was getting ready to clap and cheer, until I heard my name read out! I couldn’t believe it, little old me from Scotland, and not very well known, had won!” Sarah humbly admits she never thought she would win on her first time entering the competition and being handed the golden star trophy felt surreal.

Sarah was hugely congratulated by her friends and immediately FaceTimed her partner and children to proudly show off her trophy. “Hearing my children saying how proud they are of me makes it all worth it,” Sarah smiles. Her trophy is now sat in prime position beside the gifted tech’s other awards.

What does the future hold for this award winner? “I plan on continuing my education within the nail and beauty industry, so that I can offer up to date courses and increase my knowledge in my teaching subjects. I would also love to take part in more competitions!”

Follow Sarah on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.