Painter and Decorator - Emma Dougan

Emma Dougan,
Age: 20

Qualifications
NVQ Level 3 Painting & Decorating, City & Guilds Interior Design Level 1

What do you do day-to-day?
It varies. On big jobs I could be doing the same thing every day - emulsion, glossing, glazing. In the evenings and at weekends I work for myself. I have just finished decorating a complete house. I was able to choose colour schemes, wallpaper and special effects including rag-rolling, clouding, marbling and graining.

Good bits about your job?
I get to travel all over Northern Ireland and there is great variety in the work. I meet new people and have made lots of new friends. I get to see other trades at work and can recognise good workmanship.

Why did you choose your career?
I had liked painting and decorating ever since I was very young - I helped my Mum decorate our house! My older brothers all work in construction so I saw there was plenty of work out there and good money to be made.

What does the future hold?
I would like to move into Interior Design. If you are to have a high standard of work, the design has to be right. Eventually I would like to run my own business.