Graffiti artist in the 90's, and freshly armed with an honours degree in communication arts, I decided to set up a legitimate commercial art business after running out of walls to paint!
In 1999 A.k.A was born and, prior to this I had an entirely different style, and as a consequence, this brought about the name A.k.A as it was different to my original style. Since then A.k.A has grown into a multi-discipline boutique studio that creates artwork and animations for clients across the globe.
A.k.A is fortunate enough to have created artwork and animation for some of the biggest clients on the planet including: Dreamworks SKG, Procter and Gamble, Mazda, The BBC, McDonalds, Future Publishing, Beijing Olympics, Heineken, Harper Collins, Experian and many others. Many of whom have worked with A.k.A multiple times.
Whether you know exactly what you are looking for for your project or need leadership in ensuring you get the perfect results for your visuals A.k.A has the experience and skills to ensure you get noticed for all the right reasons and it’s a process that I truly love.
Ultimately I am completely defined by my work, my work makes my identity, it's who I am.
Be it bespoke illustration, motion graphics, branding, visual identities, design, packaging artwork, original photography or a brand refresh I am lucky enough to have nearly every creative tool at my disposal be it airbrushing, paint, pencils, scissors, scalpals, spray cans, cameras, 3D CGI software, photo manipulation software, fluid simulation software or anything else you can think of. I utilise traditional craftsmanship and crafts and combine these aspects with cutting edge tools to create imagery that is truly original and taylor made to every client's specific brief.
My work doesn't stop at technique though, I also use over twenty years of experience ensuring I solve visual problems and am passionate about ensuing I solve these problems in the best ways possible.
I DO judge a book by its cover, and truly LOVE the process. Ultimately my attention to detail is second to none and I am highly motivated to create interesting and engaging imagery for a broad range of clients. I will never grab ideas 'off the peg' to fit it to a solution but instead always ensure that my approach is 100% bespoke every time, tailor made to each and every client and brief specifically for the job in hand. In a way it's comparable to buying an original, tailor made suit, it's always made to fit you perfectly.
My use of crafts is brought into sharp focus with this example where I utilised a massive array of techniques to execute this particular image. Some of the methods employed for this series involved creating particle systems which were rendered in a 3D modeller, in depth 3D modelling, bespoke photography, pencil renderings, some of which were A3 in size and large pen & ink drawings which were collectively then collaged together to create these series of images. For me it's not just about the finished piece it's also about the love and care that is put into executing each and every brief I undertake. Read more.
I am fortunate enough to be able to utilise a very wide array of tools, techniques and approaches to ensure I can always create the best results for each client. Nothing is off limits to me when it comes to solving a brief and although I have decades of experience I still approach each and every brief with the same excitment and enthusiasm as I ever have.
After discussions with a client and receiving the brief I will often start with extensive sketching, establishing key messages and conceptualising ideas, colourisation and palettes. This is then presented to the client and following their feedback I will carry ideas forward and sharpen the focus, ensuring all of the client's needs are always achieved along the road to completion but also making sure I guide them along the process as it unfolds.
To create the polished artwork it often involves the overlapping of many different skills, be they photography, CGI, collage, traditional artworking skills such as pen & ink, pencil renderings, airbrushing or even animations. Ultimately I use any means necessary to create the finished work and I don't see it as finished until the client's are delighted with the results! In our business, results count. My extensive client list of blue chip companies from around the globe are testament to this.
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