MY EXPERIENCE

RESEARCH SKILLS

I am a very competent researcher with extensive experience in the following:

• Historical Mapping.
• National, international and local archival research.
• Property research.
• Family record research including BMD’s, probates, and parish records.

SPECIFIC TECHNICAL SKILLS

I am proficient in the following techniques / technologies and software packages:

• 3D Modelling & Digital Sculpting (Autodesk 3dsmax, Autodesk Mudbox)
• 3D Scanning (Laser & Structured Light)
• 3D Printing (including hand finishing and general workshop practice)
• Shader Development (Substance Designer, Substance Painter)
• CG Animation, inc. particle effects, rigid & soft body dynamics, fluid dynamics, rag doll simulation and crowd behaviour systems.
• Photogrammetry including Structure-from-motion (SfM)
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• 2D image editing (Adobe PhotoShop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe After Effects)
• Desktop Publishing (Adobe InDesign)
• Web design, hosting and content management.
• Spreadsheet and database management.

POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY

In 2000 I joined Teesside University where I was initially the only academic member of staff to deliver modules in games art & design. As a result I was responsible for the design and development of the ‘creative’ games portfolio for students graduating with a ‘creative’ games degree from Teesside between the period 2000-2016. During this period my areas of responsibility included:

• Head of Games Art & Design.
• Head of Games & Animation.
• Management of curriculum development team.
• Responsible for the design, validation and revalidation of the following programmes (validation dates in brackets):
  • BA (Hons) Computer Games Design (2001, 2004, 2008, 2012)
  • BA (Hons) Computer Games Art (2004, 2008, 2012)
  • BA (Hons) Computer Games Animation (2004, 2008, 2012)
  • MA Computer Games Art (2005)
  • MA Computer Games Art (Character) (2007)
  • MA Computer Games Art (Environment) (2007)
  • MA Computer Games Art (Vehicular) (2007)
  • BA (Hons) Technical Illustration (2014)
• Membership of the School Academic Standards Committee (SASC) and Policy Committee.
• Coordinated academic and policy dissemination.
• Management and supervision of academic staff.
• Setting and marking of in-course assessments.
• Supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations and theses.
• Supporting students in a pastoral/advisory role.

EDUCATION

MA degree in Computer Animation Teesside University

Technology Foundation Course (2yrs part-time) Open University

Science Foundation Course (1yr part-time) Open University

HNC Computer Science Gateshead Technical College

HNC Electrical & Electronic Engineering Gateshead Technical College

Diploma in General Engineering (2yrs full-time) Gateshead Technical College

CURRENT PROJECTS

EMPLOYMENT

Technical Artist & Researcher (3D Digital Historical Reconstruction)

(Present; North East England based)

Investigating technical and visual solutions for digital heritage.

Academic Misconduct Co-ordinator (Principal Lecturer)

(January, 2014 to December, 2015; Teesside University, Middlesbrough; Full-time)

I took this post to alter my workload and allow me time to pursue my research interests in Historical Reconstruction.

• Acting on behalf of the Assistant Dean (Learning & Teaching) to investigate academic misconduct across all School programmes including franchise partnerships.
• Course Leader (BA (Hons) Indie Games Design)
• Course Leader (MComp Games Development)

Head of Games Art & Design (Principal Lecturer)

(September, 2011 to January, 2014; Teesside University, Middlesbrough; Full-time)

• Managing the newly formed Games Art & Design Section.

Head of Games & Animation (Principal Lecturer)

(October, 2006 to September, 2011; Teesside University, Middlesbrough; Full-time)

• Management of the Games Design, Games Art, Games Animation, General Animation, and Character Animation subject areas.
• Responsible for the curriculum development of the above areas.

Principal Lecturer (Games Art)

(April, 2006 to October, 2006; Teesside University, Middlesbrough; Full-time)

• Curriculum development in games art and design.
• 3D Modelling & Texturing for Games.
• Animation for Games.
• Visual Effects for Games.

Senior Lecturer (Games Design)

(June, 2000 to April, 2006; Teesside University, Middlesbrough; Full-time)

• Development of programmes in Games Design and 3D Modeling & Texturing.
• Development of online teaching resources (3dfoundation.com)

3D Artist & in-house Trainer

(1997 to 2000; Acclaim Studios, Stockton-on-Tees; Full-time)

• Working as part of the team developing multi-platform games including the ‘Shadowman’ and ‘Forsaken’ brands.
• Specialising in level construction, character design & construction and all forms of texturing.
• Additional responsibilities included construction of promotional material, game demo videos and in-house training.

Lead 3d Artist & Project Coordinator

(1992 to 1997; Eutechnyx, Gateshead; Full-time)

• Responsible for the training of artists within the studio.
• Cut sequence development.
• Graphics development using Alias/Wavefront on the SG platform.

Freelance Programmer / Artist

(Pre 1992; Newcastle; Full-time)

• Worked on projects for Activision, Ocean, Infogrames, Atari, EA, Microsoft.
• Programmed on various consoles, including Atari, NES, SNES, Sega Mega Drive.
• Began working as 3D software trainer to help artists move from 2D to 3D.