Me - Nick Scurfield

Nick Scurfield

Illustrator / Concept artist / Art Director

As with many creatives I’ve been drawing my entire life, but it first became a problem during my school years.

To the exasperation of my tutors, I would fill every front cover, back page and margin of my school books with doodles.

Unable to quit, I decided to make it the focus of my studies, working my way through formal (and informal) education, intent on making a career from my love of illustration.

So far, so good. I have now been a professional illustrator for over fifteen years.

I'm still not cured.

nick@nscurfield.com

(+44) 7734914611

nickscurfield

WORLD BUILDING

When it comes to creative work I'm in my element when developing concept art for original worlds, and creating the characters to populate them. As I work I begin amassing ideas about how the world works.

Usually I’ve constructed a civilisation, history, religions, genealogy, postcodes and junk-mail of the world I’m depicting by the time I've finished the first image.

I also enjoy navigating the constraints when building on existing worlds. Almost any restrictions can be bypassed with some fun creative thinking… and goalpost moving.

STORY IS KING

I have a borderline obsessive love of film. This passion, fostered since a very early age, meant that I naturally develop images with a cinematic slant with a strong narrative element.

When delivered as part of a series, these key-frames can help perpetuate the story through composition, light, and colour. (I tried adding smell, but it’s tricky when working digitally.)

Complementing these concepts with some short storyboard sequences really help bring the worlds to life, even if it's simply some sketchbook doodles.

This is also an excellent excuse to continue drawing. Forever.

Employment History

Dubit Ltd

Creative Director
July 2016 – Current

Dubit Limited are a kids agency who develop virtual worlds, VR games and apps for kids brands across the globe.

As Creative Director I developed concept art and provided direction on numerous titles for the likes of LEGO, Angry Birds, The BBC, Hooked On Phonics, K’Nex, PBS, Discovery Channel, Aljazeera, Pandoo, The Guardians of Ancora, and many more.

Dubit Ltd. - Half Round House - Wellington Road - Leeds - LS12 1DR - +44 (0) 113 394 7920-

Freelance

Concept Artist / Character Designer / Art Director
June 2003 – Current

I am currently working freelance, delivering artwork for a wide variety of projects with a fast turn around.

As well as completing illustration briefs I've worked as an Art Director, leading creative teams and shaping the visual design of projects.

This has afforded me the opportunity to develop worlds from scratch as well as working on globally recognised brands.

I am also regularly producing and selling my own art which resulted in me developing an ongoing series of officially licensed Star Wars prints.

Code Monkeys Ltd.

Concept Artist
September 2005 – January 2010

Working as a concept artist and designer, I delivered concepts games for early mobile phone handsets and leading games consoles.

As well as creating pitch documents for new titles, I was also heavily involved in developing the game-play mechanics for many games, securing key contracts for the company with my early concepts.

The Code Monkeys Ltd. - Suite 204 - Field House - 15 Wellington Road - Dewsbury - WF13 1HF - +44 (0) 1924 454511-

3D Films

Storyboard Artist / Concept and Character Design
January 2001 – May 2003

3D Films is an animation company working on traditional 2D, and 3D animated television projects.

My main task was working on various children’s television series’ such as 'Wheels on the bus' and 'Underground Ernie' developing characters, environments and a continuous flow of storyboards.

I was also responsible for designing spaceships for the live action adventure game-show Starfinder.

3D Films – Telford Plaza – Plaza One – Ironmasters Way – Telford – TF3 4NT – 01952 208701

Sandman Productions

Storyboard Artist

After approaching the director I was asked to work on a series of storyboards for his first feature length movie ‘Cold Heaven’.

My artwork was used by the special effects department to enable them to accurately realise miniature based effects shots in accordance with the director's vision.

Sandman Productions – Woolston House – Tetley St. – Bradford – West Yorkshire – BD1 2NP – 01274 201333