In the early 90s, after completing 6 years of further education in various art fields I spent some time lost in the world of illustration doing book and video covers but also numerous private art commissions including a large oil painting of a champion chicken (long story) and the occasional painted leather jacket. But my first love in art was to visualise the unknown. Create worlds and those that inhabited them. So in the early 90s, spurred on by the influence of great artists like Syd Mead, H R Giger and Ron Cobb and not knowing at all what I was doing, I decided to pursue a career in the movies.
It took me a number of years to finally get my well trodden foot through the Art Department door but in early 1995, whilst showing some work at Creature FX I was told a big French Sci Fi film had moved into Pinewood. I showed Dan Weil, the production designer my work and bingo! I was given my first real concept art role. That film was The Fifth Element and I have not stopped since.
In the years that have followed I have been so lucky to work with so many amazing Production designers, directors, producers and crew on projects both large and small, live action and animation. Many of these crew members went on to become good friends.
Even on the most challenging of productions it’s the crew that will pull it through. As dear Peter Lamont said to me one day “The team is everything!” Thank you Guild for honouring this humbled, scruffy artist who dared to do something different all those years ago.
