Vinilla Burnham

I was born deep in the Sussex countryside in the 1950's; the 4th generation of actors, singers and writers from silent movies, circus and opera, to theatre film and TV.

I was expelled from school; dropped out of college, then got a job as an usherette in the West End, and I soon discovered that unlike education, I loved work!

I got a lucky break in the ‘props’ depart at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden as a trainee to ‘learn the ropes’.

Since then I’ve worked in Film, TV, Advertising, Theatre, Opera, Ballet and the Music industry. My career has taken me from Covent Garden to Hollywood and back again. I give talks and masterclasses on my subject and have spoken at the Victoria and Albert Museum London, The National Film and Television School, The London College of Fashion, TV Globo Rio de Janeiro, Nordeus Computer Games in Belgrade, University of Ohio Cincinnati, University of Ohio Columbus, University of Northern Ohio, Toledo Art Museum.

I’m fortunate to be well known and respected in my industry, with a long history of high profile, innovative work in costume design, creature effects and celebrity styling.

Some of my credits include creating Aslan for the BBC’s Narnia, making the Batsuit for Michael Keaton’s Batman, designing costumes for the BBCs Wind in the Willows starring Matt Lucas as Toad, and designing Lady Gaga’s ‘Living Dress’. I have recently completed work as Creative Costume Consultant on The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance for the Jim Henson Company and Netflix.

I’ve designed for and dressed many celebrities including Lady Gaga, Gary Oldman, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carrie Fisher, Helen Mirren DBE, Matt Lucas, Mark Gatiss, Bob Hoskins, Michael Keaton, Michelle Pfeiffer, Heather Graham, Matt le Blanc, Robert Carlyle, Imelda Staunton and Ving Rhames.

I'm currently working on my second book; working title: 'Inside Out Costume Design; an Insider's Guide to a Successful Career in Costume'. It's my way of passing on the baton to the next generation of costume professionals.