My Experience

I am a freelance consultant in Digital Archaeology having spent over 30 years in the field of 3D graphics both commercially and as a lecturer teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. My expertise revolves around digital archaeology, digital heritage, 3D modelling/scanning, and game development. Between 2000-2014 I was responsible for the design, validation (and re-validation), and delivery of the game art, design, and animation programmes at Teesside University. These were the very first degrees in Games Art and Games Animation which made Teesside University one of the world’s largest providers of computer games graduates. Since 2015 my focus has been on digital archaeology. My work has been used for documentaries, books, magazines, and within various research projects. I am also an Autodesk Certified Trainer for 3d Studio Max. I am presently reading for a DPhil in Oriental Studies at the University of Oxford, exploring ancient Egyptian religious spaces through 3D analysis of temple graffiti at Karnak, Egypt, and how the various methods used can be transferred to other archaeological sites. This page gives an outline of my experience.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPERIENCE (International)

THE AMARNA PROJECT (Egypt)

I have been actively engaged with the Amarna Project for several years, under the direction of Barry Kemp, where I have developed several photogrammetric projects alongside some 3D reconstructions for publication. These mostly revolve around the Great Aten Temple enclosure, with some test 3D captures conducted in the rock tombs.

During the 2022 season I completed a full survey of the Great Aten Temple enclosure and conducted several 3D surveys at the North Desert Cemetery.

In 2023 I began conducting a 3D photogrammetric survey of the ancient Egyptian city of Amarna as part of a three year ARCE funded project entitled “Akhenaten’s city: Protecting Amarna’s urban heritage”, directed by Dr Anna Stevens.

The Karnak Graffiti Project (Egypt)

As part of my doctoral research I have worked as a member of the KGP under the direction of Prof. Elizabeth Frood. During the spring  seasons of 2022 and 2023 I conducted detailed 3D captures of ancient graffiti and several temple structures namely, the Temple of Ptah, the 8th Pylon, and the SE corner of the 10th Court.

Towns of the Karakum Archaeological (ToKA) Project 2023 (Turkmenistan)

The site of Dandanakan is a medieval Islamic town in the middle of the desert in modern day Turkmenistan, which seemingly flourished from the 10th-12th centuries CE. Brief excavations in the 1940s revealed a collapsed Friday mosque, but this was reburied at the time. In 2017 a Turkmen initiative re-excavated the site and in the 2023 summer season I conducted a 3D photogrammetric survey of the structure under the direction of Dr Martina Rugiadi (MET) and Dr Paul Wordsworth (UCL).

Professional SKILLS

ARCHAEOLOGICAL

I am proficient in the following archaeological techniques / technologies:

• Excavation, recording, site planning and surveying
• Single context excavation and recording
• Recording of complex archaeological deposits, i.e. skeletal remains
• Experimental archaeology. Construction of furnace and hearths, metal casting

TECHNICAL

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

• Photogrammetry (Artefact, Site Excavation, Buildings, Landscape)
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• 3D Scanning (Laser & Structured Light)
• 3D Modelling & Digital Sculpting (Autodesk 3dsmax, Autodesk Mudbox)
• 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.
• 2D image editing (Adobe PhotoShop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe After Effects)
• Desktop Publishing (Adobe InDesign)
• Web design, hosting and content management.
• Spreadsheet and database management.

RESEARCH

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.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

I have taught at undergraduate and postgraduate level for 15 years full-time at Teesside University with an additional 3 years part-time at other institutions, mainly the University of York. I have prepared and delivered a number of modules with some developed by myself before being transferred to other academic members for delivery. The following is an outline of my teaching experience.

Department of Archaeology, University of York

Virtual Reality & 3D Modelling for Archaeology – Postgraduate

School of Computing, Teesside University

Design, preparation, and delivery of teaching materials for the following undergraduate and postgraduate courses:

• 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)