Nail training courses from the professionals.

At the Kelly Ashby Nail Academy, my mission is to equip aspiring nail technicians – especially beginners – with the knowledge and skills they need to build their own thriving nail businesses.

My training teaches you how to get exceptional results with gel polish, builder gel, efile techniques, and full cover tips application. You’ll learn to prioritise the client’s wellbeing, while working to the highest health and safety standards. The courses also cover client consultation, nail health, insurance, legal requirements, safe natural nail preparation, and other essentials.

My commitment is to help you build the strong foundation that’s the key to succeeding in the nail industry. Join me on this exciting journey and turn the dream of your own nail business into a reality!

Kelly Ashby

Training Courses

We offer face-to-face and online training courses accredited by the ABT (Association of Beauty Therapists). Whatever your nail training needs, we have the right course for you.

Face-to-Face Nail Courses

With our face-to-face courses, you can:

  • see expert demonstrations of techniques first-hand.
  • get hands-on practice with immediate feedback.
  • have your questions answered in the session.

Our face-to-face courses are available in Swindon, Cardiff and Gloucester.

Gel Polish Course

£150
inc VAT

Builder Gel Course

£150
inc VAT

E-file Course

£150
inc VAT

Full Cover Tip Application Course

£120
inc VAT

1-2-1 Training

£40/Hr
inc VAT

Nail Art Course

£100
inc VAT

Online Nail Courses

Learn nail techniques at your own pace and in your own place! Our online courses give you maximum convenience and flexibility to build your nail care career.

Builder Gel Online Course

£120
incs VAT

Efile Online Course

£130
incs VAT

Full Cover Tips Online Course

£80
incs VAT

Gel Polish Online Course

£120
incs VAT

Nail Art Online Course

£50
incs VAT

About the Kelly Ashby Nail Academy

Kelly Ashby is a respected nail technician and educator with over 24 years’ industry experience. She has an AET (Award in Education and Training) recognised by Ofqual, and has been an educator for The GelBottleTM for 6 years.

All of the academy’s courses have been carefully designed by Kelly to help students achieve their goals. For maximum convenience, training is available in-house. The academy also provides a one-to-one training experience where those who experience social anxiety can thrive.

Kelly believes that building a strong foundation, combined with continuous learning and a focus on excellence, is the key to success in the nail business.
The academy is helping to build a community of passionate and knowledgeable nail technicians who are great at their craft and provide exceptional service.

‘Industry-renowned qualification awarded to Kelly Ashby Nail Academy’

About Us

Kelly Ashby

Hi, I’m Kelly! I have been a nail technician for 25 years. I’ve had the privilege of running my own Nail Academy for the past eight years. It’s been a wild, rewarding journey, and I absolutely love the mix of my amazing clients and teaching new nail techs. 

There’s something magical about working with beginners—seeing that *lightbulb moment* when everything clicks, and they understand nail treatments. It’s like watching someone unlock a hidden superpower! 

Many of my students have messaged me about leaving jobs they didn’t enjoy to start their own successful nail businesses, and that’s hands-down the best part of teaching. On a personal note, I have an incredible 18-year-old daughter who inspires me daily, and here’s a fun fact: I actually qualified as a yoga teacher last year! So when I’m not painting nails or training the next generation of nail artists, you might find me practicing a bit of yoga flow.

Francesca Rowland

With over 20 years of experience in the beauty industry, I have cultivated a profound passion for nail artistry and education.

Throughout my career, I have honed my skills in all things related, as well as staying abreast of the latest trends and their advancements in the field.

My journey has been driven by commitment to not only mastering but also empowering others to reach their full potential. Teaching has always been a natural extension of my work. I believe that knowledge is most valuable when shared, and my greatest satisfaction comes from seeing my students succeed. My approach combines practical skills with essential theoretical knowledge.

Working with Kelly Ashby Nail Academy, I get the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who are equally passionate about elevating the standards of nail education. I’m excited to contribute to the Academy.

My goal is to inspire my students, equip them with skills and confidence to not only excel in their careers but to foster lifelong love for the art of nails

Reviews

We love getting feedback from our students! Here’s a small selection of what they say about their experience with us.

Shanice
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“ I had the most positive experience with the Biab course and Efile course both in one day I couldn’t asked for better trainer she is so kind and caring and patient with all of us that day when I left I was feeling so confident and happy that I can carry it on she is passionate and has so much knowledge I’ve learnt so much I deffo will be going back to do more courses with Kelly ”
Vicki
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“ Kelly is honestly the best tutor around. She is so helpful & insightful. She explains everything so well and is a fountain of knowledge. It was a privilege to be taught by her and I hope I do her proud! Would highly recommend Kelly ”
Mikyla
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“ Loved every bit of the training I did with Kelly. She’s always happy to help and provides great in-depth training🤎xx ”
Jasmine
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“ I have recently been on Kelly's gel polish and nail art course, and have also booked onto builder gel and efile. Kelly is such a fantastic tutor. She is so patient and really takes the time to explain everything clearly and in a way that is easy to understand. She is very professional in the way she runs her courses-nicely printed out manuals, structure from start to finish, and a fab set up standalone from any other building so that you can really immerse yourself in the training being provided without distraction. I cannot wait for my next courses. ”
Sam
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" I really enjoyed all of the courses ,her salon has a lovely feel and friendly atmosphere due to Kelly's welcoming personality. Kelly is patient and takes small classes so that everyone attending receives all of the help they need . Kelly has been happy to help with any further queries after training and her new online store is a great addition to her services. I have left the courses feeling confident to begin my new venture. Thankyou Kelly 💞 "
Stacey
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" Amazing trainer, very welcoming and very knowledgeable! loved every minute of training, I’ve used Kelly multiple times and would highly recommend to anyone thinking of training and using her….. 5* "
Sophie
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" I’ve completed both my Gel Polish & Builder training with Kelly and I can’t recommend her enough! She’s such a patient and knowledgable teacher, and has really helped me gain confidence in applying gel nails. I can’t wait to book on for more classes in the future and a massive thank you Kelly! "
Lily-May
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" I trained with Kelly in basic gel, builder and extensions and EFile and I cannot recommend her enough. Even 2 years later she’s always at the end of the phone helping me when I’m panicking about something. Her training courses are thorough, easy to follow and professional. It can be so scary learning something new but thanks to Kellys wealth of knowledge and years of experience you really feel at ease. It was also really helpful to have take home guides that Kelly had prepared to refer back to & she’s always on hand for product advice too! x "
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