Academia
The training and development of skills across teams has been central to the most rewarding aspects of my career. I love seeing people reach personal goals and develop abilities beyond those they conceived as possible. I am experienced in developing lecturing teams, and curriculum in higher education as well as private VFX courses. I have trained many industry professionals to help them transition their careers into teaching and lecturing roles. This has formed a core part of the development of my own academic teams, who are knowledgeable and current with industry best practice.
University of Bolton - Industry Lecture
In Partnership with the Light Cinema groupIn a field as fast moving as VFX, academia benefits hugely by building symbiotic relationships with the world leading industry practitioners and studios. These relationships inform curriculum development and ensure that the skills that students are developing are relevant and sought after. Likewise, the studios benefit from being able to monitor how students develop and by steering their skillsets and portfolios in a direction that will most align with their own junior recruitment needs. This greatly reduces the cost of their recruitment processes. It also increases the success rates of new juniors, as the studio has taken a hand in the student development and has seen firsthand how the students respond to briefs and feedback.
Academic Experience
- 2023-Now
VFX Tutor
Shoot First - Screenclay Academy - 2018-2023
Associate Teaching Professor
University of Bolton - 2016-2020
External Examiner
Confetti Institute - Nottingham Trent University - 2015-2018
VFX Programme Leader
University of Bolton - 2009-2015
Senior Lecturer
University of Bolton
Education
- 2012
FHEA
University of Bolton - 2011-2012
PG Cert HE
University of Bolton - 2003-2004
MSc Computer Animation [Distinction]
Bournemouth University - 1999-2002
BSc Mathematics [2:1]
University of Nottingham
VFX Industry Experience
Alongside education, I have consistently taken roles in industry to support the development of VFX for films and episodic work for clients such as the BBC, Disney, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Paramount. It is through these roles that I maintain the perspective to lead curriculum development in the most effective direction. The software and techniques used in the VFX industry evolve rapidly. I feel that the experience I gain in these industry roles is critical to being able to make the best decisions when improving course material. Below is a summary of my industry experience.
Industry Projects
- 2023
Dr Who [Christmas Specials]
FX Technical Director - 2023
Dr Who [60th Anniversary Specials]
FX Technical Director - 2023
The Burning Girls [Amazon Prime Video]
Groom/FX Technical Director - 2023
Red, White & Royal Blue [Amazon Prime Video]
FX Technical Director - 2021
Intergalactic [Sky Atlantic]
Character Modelling - 2018
The Titan
Character Look Development - 2016
Revolt [Netflix]
Rigging - 2014-2015
Otherside of the Door
Look Development - 2014
Outside the Wire [Netflix]
Rigging - 2013-2014
Monsters: Dark Continent
Texturing Supervisor - 2010
History Cold Case [BBC]
VFX Production - 2008
Motor Storm II: Pacfic Rim [Sony]
Production - 2007-2009
Associate
AHD MI - 2005-Now
Director
3DFramework Ltd
Graduate Careers
The most fulfilling aspect of my career has been watching my graduates take up roles at some of the world’s most successful VFX studios. I have many students working at companies that have won BAFTASs and Oscars. As these graduates move up into more senior roles, I have stayed in touch with them, and now am lucky enough to have their regular feedback through calls and industry panels and industry briefs to current students. This ensures our academic decisions are always guided, and reflect the needs of the industry. Below are links to some of the studios where my graduates currently work. Please check out their pages, their work is so inspiring!
Industry Involvement
DNEG - Industry Project Presentations
University of Bolton Graduates in VFX artist Roles at DNEG talk to current students visiting their studio on the industry tripThe photo above is an example of the level of industry engagement that I aim to create between academia and industry. The photo is taken inside DNEG’s screening room, and on stage are 6 of my graduates, from 6 separate graduate year groups. As such, they are all at different stages of their career, from runner positions all the way through to senior artist and supervisor roles. The artists are talking to 35 visiting current students. The current students get to ask them questions and seek advice about how to get their most out of their studies, in a way that best prepares them for industry. During the same visit, the final year degree students can present the projects they have created in response to the DNEG industry brief. These projects DNEG projects have often resulted in students being immediately hired into their studio upon graduation.