Paulette Alfred Guy-James graduated from the University of the West Indies in 2005, with an Upper-Second Class Honours Degree in Visual Arts, and in 2014 she received a Master’s Degree in Carnival Studies from the University of Trinidad and Tobago. 

 

Paulette began her career as a Carnival Costume Designer in 2001, and designed her first major stage shows "Moon on a Rainbow Shawl" and "An Evening of August", in 2005. At the same time, she began teaching as a part-time lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Department for Creative and Festival Arts. Since then and until present, she has been teaching and as a Senior Lecturer in Costume Design at The University of Trinidad and Tobago’s, Academy for the Performing Arts. Additionally, she continues to work in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean, in the Carnival arena. Paulette is a member of the National Carnival Development Foundation and the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Service Industries. She has won two (2) Cacique Awards for most Outstanding Costume Design in 2007 for the musical "Oliver", and in 2008 for the musical "The Sound of Music". She has also won prizes for Costume Design in 2006 for the carnival costume "Parrot Fish" and co-produced the Red Cross Junior Carnival Queen costume "The Snow Princess" in 2009. Contributing to her successes, Paulette was the Artistic Director for the 2015 Carnival King costume "Atwahjé".