How Amy Schumer's makeup artist decided to chase her dream

There was a time in Andréa Tiller's life when she needed a lot of space for self-reflection, and it turns out the seawall in the Coal Harbour neighbourhood was the perfect place for that.

"It's really calm and beautiful and peaceful there," the makeup artist says of the part of the path between Canada Place and Cardero Street.

Tiller now lives in New York and works as a makeup artist for celebrities like comedian Amy Schumer, one of her main clients.

But it took a special spot in B.C. for her to think about her goals and figure out what she needed to do to reach them. 

Two years ago, Tiller was living in Coal Harbour, trying to decide where to take her budding career. 

At the time, she was running her successful business, Your Face My Art, providing bridal makeup for South Asian weddings. She was also doing makeup for the occasional celebrity who came to Vancouver. 

Tiller had lived in Vancouver for nearly 10 years but had always dreamed of taking her talent to the U.S.

"If you have a spot like that, it just brings all your thoughts together," Tiller says. 

"It was a place of serenity and clarity down by the water. A lot of reflection went on down there."

She lived nearby, so could often make her way along the path to take breaks from her busy schedule. 

"I live my life really busy — go, go, go," she says.

"I never really have any room to sit down and think calmly, so I just think a spot like this really helps you just make the best decisions that you can."

It turns out the decision she made there was the right one. Tiller is now signed with agency The Wall Group. Her long list of clients now includes celebrities like Schumer and magazines like Esquire. 

"They time manage my schedule and they talk to the clients for me, and they pretty much just run my life — which is good," she says. 

Tiller still comes to Vancouver about three times a year to work on her bridal makeup business and visit family in Victoria. 

Her advice for anyone visiting her B.C. hideaway?

"Be thankful for what Vancouver has to offer. It's just such a beautiful area," she says. "And just really be thankful about what you have."