Following a lifelong passion for visual storytelling through concept art, cinematography and filmmaking. I went on to study a degree in these at Central St Martin's Film School, London. On graduation I set up my own production company 'Edge Films' making promos and short films. With a solid foundation of filmmaking skills, adopting 'Maya' and 'Shake' as my go-to Vfx software's on their release circa 1998. Being at the dawn of the digital desktop revolution, even with a small team I was able to deliver high production value on tight budgets, ie: considerable 'bang for buck'!
In less then a year, I was head-hunted by a then small company; 'Nexus Studios’. as an in-house director and creative director. I spent the next five years directing live action and vfx, as well as creating concept art and often leading vfx hands-on for my music promo, commercial, shorts and feature-film 'pre-sale' projects; essentially a 'film trailer' with an aim to gain funding for the actual full length feature-film!
Sounds great, however, I found the lifestyle of shooting on location for weeks on end taxing and decided I wanted to be more hands-on as a studio based artist. I initially joined MPC London in 2002, then after six productive years there, moved onto other high-end facilities including Framestore and Goodbye Kansas Studios. In total gaining a further two decades of experience working closely with many renowned film directors, vfx supervisors and producers whilst leading many highly talented creative teams; Concepting and realising the creative vision on over sixty inspiring feature-film and high-end productions including; creating the iconic castles in season one of 'Game of Thrones' from concept to final, as well as creatively supervising and leading the cinematic visual effects on the climactic end sequences of director: "Danny Boyle's" feature film "Sunshine" released in 2007. A project I am still very proud of!
Many years on, still greatly inspired by 'Sunshine' as well as similar cinematic masterpieces within the genre including ‘Kubrick's’ “2001”. I am now rediscovering and realising my passion for filmmaking. Collaboratively developing a cinematic short film IP project. Utilising the creative power of ‘human’ performance and capture, combined with Unreal Engine 5. Unveiling first glimpses of ‘production design sketches’, ‘keyframe concept art', etc: late 2024.
Cycling with the stages of this short film project, I am also providing the specialist concept, visual development and dmp skills and experience I have acquired for select projects on a freelance basis. See 'Specialisms' tab in main-menu or send me a direct message through 'LinkedIn' tab for more info.
The specialist areas I provide include:
- concept/production design (characters, architecture, vehicles, etc)
- art/creative direction: pre and post; visual-development.
- 3d & dmp environments: vfx and cinematics.
- style-frames & key-frames: ( narrative/shot context concept art)
- shot design, tech-vis, pre-vis, etc: Unreal-Engine 5
Developing Cinematic short film IP project, primarily using Unreal-Engine-5 along with VFX, VP and XR motion capture techniques. Unveiling first glimpses of production design and keyframe concept art, etc: July 2024.
Worked closely with film directors including 'Frank Miller' n direct collaboration with many renowned vfx supervisors and producers, whilst leading highly talented creative teams: Identifying the project goals and creative vision. Winning the work for the team by fast tracking the creative vision through concept art and visual development. Mentoring artists within department. Concept Design & Visualisation. Post-Visual-Development. Keyframe Concept Art. Shot Design & Tech-Vis . DMP . VFX Environments. VFX Art & Creative Direction
Worked closely with film directors including 'George Clooney' in direct collaboration with many renowned vfx supervisors and producers, whilst leading highly talented creative teams: Identifying the project goals and creative vision. Winning the work for the team by fast tracking the creative vision through concept art and visual development. Mentoring artists . Concept Design & Visualisation. Post-Visual-Development. Keyframe Concept Art. Shot Design & Tech-Vis . DMP . VFX Environments. VFX Art Direction
Identifying the project goals and creative vision. fast tracking this through concept art and visual development. pitching and winning work. Concept Design & Visualisation. Post-Visual-Development. Keyframe Concept Art. Shot Design & Tech-Vis . DMP . VFX Environments. VFX Art Direction
Set up the department and delivered many projects from concept to final in this role. Including
working closely with production designer 'Gemma Jackson' in direct collaboration with vfx supervisor 'Adam McGuinness' and our highly talented team on: Game of Thrones (Season 1) . Mentoring artists within department. Leading Cg and VFX Environments, Look-Dev, Concept Art. Shot Design- Tech-Vis & Pre-Vis, Etc.
Worked closely with production designers including 'Kevin Jenkins' in direct collaboration with many renowned vfx supervisors and producers ,whilst leading many highly talented creative teams: Roles includeding: Lead VFX Environments & Lighting / Look-Dev, Concept Art. Shot Design- Tech-Vis & Pre-Vis
Worked closely with director 'Terry Gilliam' in direct collaboration with renowned vfx supervisors and producers ,whilst leading a highly talented creative teams. Roles including Leading VFX Environments & Lighting / Look-Dev, Concept Art. Shot Design- Tech-Vis & Pre-Vis
Worked closely with film directors including 'Danny Boyle' in direct collaboration with renowned vfx supervisors and producers, whilst leading highly talented creative teams: Identifying the project goals and creative vision. fast tracking this through concept art and visual development. pitching and winning work. Concept Design & Visualisation. Post-Visual-Development. Keyframe Concept Art. Shot Design & Tech-Vis . DMP . VFX Environments. VFX Art Direction
Director / Filmmaker / VFX Art Director of Indie Feature-Film 'Pre-Sell Short/Trailer' Projects. Budgets to £500k
Director & VFX Art Director of Music Promos and Commercials : budgets to £65k
Director / Filmmaker / VFX Art Director of Indie Short-Films, Idents, Music Promos & Commercials: budgets to £40k
Cinematography · Film Editing · Visual Storytelling · Direction of Actors · Live Action. Sound Design · Stop Motion · Concept Development . Storyboarding.
Life Drawing and Painting . Classical and Modernist Art Movements. Conceptual Art Theory, Colour Theory, Composition, Tone and Contrast . Speed Sketching and Painting (Traditional Media) . Research and Visual Storytelling . Drawing for Illustrators .