Creative: SLB PR in Dubai venture, Cutting Technologies supplies Royal Academy

FASHION and lifestyle PR firm SLB has won a salon and academy franchise based in the Middle East and North Africa.

Gloss, the luxury salon chain intends to have five salons and three hairdressing salons around its regions in the Middle East by 2017 and has appointed SLB to achieve this.

The first salon is set to open in Dubai in September.

SLB represents clients such as BaByliss PRO UK, MyHairDressers.com, celebrity stylist Andrew Barton; and international retailer, Lambert’s Yard.

They are also known in the UK for work with bar and restaurant clients: Angelica and Crafthouse, MOJO, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester; and the Leelex Group, Leeds and London.

Mark Butcher, chief executive of Gloss, said: “I have worked with SLB PR on various projects over several years. Their consistent ability to deliver clever, innovative and successful campaigns made them the obvious choice for this project.

“I’m glad they have decided to have a presence here as they will be integral in the development of this project across the entire region.”

Sharon Brigden, director of SLB Public Relations, said: “Over the past three years, we have been building our international portfolio by working with partners in Europe, China, Russia, Australia and the US.

“Working with Mark Butcher and the Gloss project is so exciting as it provides the opportunity for us to have an actual presence on the ground in another country.”

Photograph by Marc Wilmot. Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro Gallery, London.

Laser firm Cutting Technologies has produced work for the youngest living member of the Royal Academy of Arts, Conrad Shawcross.

8,000 tetrahedrons were laser cut by the firm from 40 tonnes of steel and assembled by Ken Ware Engineers.

Artist Mr Shawcross will showcase his work at The Summer Exhibition in the Annenburg Courtyard at the Royal Academy of Arts.

Cutting Technologies director Jane Robinson said: “A lot of our work is with artists and designers and being part of the creative process is something we really enjoy.

“Having worked with Conrad in the past, we understand the level of quality and precision his incredible work demands.

“We’re thrilled to have played such an important role in the 247th anniversary of the world’s largest open-entry art exhibition.”

Describing his work, Conrad Shawcross explained, “The Greeks considered the tetrahedron to represent the very essence of matter.

“In this huge work I have taken this form as my ‘brick’, growing these chaotic, diverging forms that will float above the heads of visitors who will be able to wander beneath them.

“I am extremely excited to see the completed work exhibited for the first time in the RA’s historic Annenburg Courtyard, for which it was conceived.”