THE sound of clattering and banging in the background is indicative of Leighton Denny’s next project.

His interest in property developing prompted the purchase of a former car showroom which has been demolished and transformed into his dream home in Chiswick, west London.

It is a fair distance from Bradford, where Leighton honed his talents for nailcare. That skill swiftly saw him become an ambassador for the beauty industry, a manicurist to the stars and a charity fundraiser, leading to his recent MBE investiture by the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace.

“It was a complete surprise,” says Leighton, of receiving the MBE. “It was my 40th birthday and it was the best birthday present I could have ever been given.

Leighton, who looked dapper in top hat and tails for his trip to the Palace, will cherish memories of the ceremony forever.

“It was amazing,” he says. “What an experience and something I never thought I would experience in my life. I’m pretty sad now it’s all over.”

Leighton, originally from Birkenshaw, enthuses about meeting Princess Anne who presented the MBE. “She is so kind, genuine and warm. She was lovely,” he says.

He says the MBE marks a significant turning point in his life. It is almost a year since he turned 40, by then his autobiography, How I Nailed It, had been released and has since sold more than 20,000 copies.

The book charts Leighton’s glittering career, which saw him leave Bradford – where he had been a forklift truck driver – before setting up a nail parlour on Tong Street, inspired by watching his mum having a manicure during a family holiday in America. He then headed for London. It was an ambitious move that proved fruitful as he made his name tending the talons of celebrities – the Spice Girls among them – and went on to develop his own brand of nail polishes, self-tanning products and, the most recent addition to the Leighton Denny brand, fragrance.

This June it will be ten years since he began promoting his products on TV shopping channel QVC.

“When you create a brand it is like having a child,” says Leighton. “You have to constantly nurture it, but as it gets older it learns to look after itself and you have to let it fly otherwise you can stop its development.”

His debut perfume, Light & Dark, was launched at London’s glamorous W Hotel last September and he’s working on another perfume and a second book on his life.

Then there are the collections to take care of. Keeping pace with styles and trends is essential in the beauty industry and Leighton is constantly working ahead with his autumn/winter nail polish collection.

The latest colour palette for his nail collection launch for spring and summer has a fairground theme. Called Welcome to the Funfair, it bottles up memories of the dizzy enjoyment of this colourful and whimsical experience, with bold brights, strong neutrals and plenty of glitter.

Lip Dual, a 2-in-1 lipstick and stain colour system, also forms part of Leighton’s brand. Added to those is an addition to his Sun Believable self-tanning brand with an anti-ageing facial tanner with Youth GLOW Technology, FACE. Combining high-end skincare with luxury professional tanning, FACE brings together a daily moisturiser and a facial tanner.

He is seeking a new challenge, but Leighton remains guarded about the next chapter in his life. He could be spending even more time in Los Angeles.

Working on product and brand development will feature. “I have been doing a lot of courses in fragrance and I’m finding it really interesting the way fragrances work and trigger memories and emotions, the way it reacts differently.

“Nails will always be my first love but just because you’re really good at something does not mean you have to do it for the rest of your life.

“I need to challenge myself again. “You have to keep evolving, you have to keep yourself relevant. I am branching out and watch this space.”

Leighton’s brand is in Marks & Spencer, and salons and spas in the UK. Visit leightondenny.com.