British hairdresser of the year nominee: mark leeson

Name: Mark Leeson

Job title: Founder/managing director at Mark Leeson Hair, Body & Mind in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire

What's your biggest achievement?

Personally: Celebrating my 20-year relationship with my partner and business partner, Richard Darby.

In that time, we have created and built a business we are immensely proud of, and have nurtured a truly fabulous team who have been able to grow alongside us.

Professionally: On a professional level it is my nomination for HJ's 2011 British Hairdresser of the Year.

I still can't believe it and I am so grateful to have this opportunity. Winning Eastern Hairdresser of the Year three times, and Schwarzkopf Professional British Colour Technician of the Year are also very proud moments for me.

Tell us three things no one knows about you.

• I absolutely love Asian food and pink champagne!
• At school I played tennis and went on to represent Derbyshire County. 
• I suffer from arthritis, which affects most of my joints. I am on a very strong weekly injection that limits the amount of pain I endure and enables me to carry on my usual fast-paced lifestyle.

Mark Leeson's British Hairdresser of the Year 2011 nominee's collection

		<img height="187" alt="Mark Leeson Picture Five" src="/wp-content/uploads/mt/hairdressersjournalweb/blogs/2011/10/25/photos/2011-Mark-Leeson-British-5.jpg" width="150" tr