Animation. 2007/2008

At the start of my second year of the course, I experimented with some stop-motion animation using Lego to construct characters/vehicles etc. Using the lego models, i created some short adventure-focused plots which included water effects using aluminium foil, and brown & green cloured cotten material to represent country-terrain. I also used the limited space in my flat in Edinburgh to create a fast-paced chase sequence involving a lego biker and a large lego built Lorry. I was surprised by what i had managed to produce with just my normal living space and a small amount of lego.
(I don't currently have these videos presented in a way which would be best for publicising. I'll present them as soon as is possible.)

Animation. Edinburgh College of Art 2006-2009

I entered the Animation/Visual-Communication course in September 2006. After starting out on some short fun group projects, I soon pushed ahead into my personal exploration of drawn animation. Despite it being a 2-Dimensional filmmaking technique, I quickly discovered the 3D storytelling possiblities using just a few pencil lines on a sheet of paper. Quicker & more economical then constructing & controlling large scale models for the sake of an interesting story. Of course, what makes a character interesting in a story, is not its labouriously constructed appearance, or an exotically created location around it, but how the character MOVES, & what influence those MOVEMENTS are having on the World around it.
For 15 months after starting the course, I experimented with abstract drawn Effects animation and character animation focusing on dramatic athleticism. However there were no concepts which I could develop into a completed film.

Graphic Design 2003-2006

Moving back to Summer 2003. A couple of months after completing the Edinburgh Marathon & other races, I entered the HND Graphic Design course at Adam Smith College in Kirkcaldy, Fife. I used drawn, computer, photographic and more pracical techniques to create various designs for eg. posters, CD & book covers, food labels, letterheads, business cards, presentation displays, etc.

On the 2nd year of the course, I worked with teams to design & produce concepts for websites and other and internet related media. In 2005, the Fife based graphic design company Catchline selected 3 students including myself to enter a short work placement with them. I was offered the project of designing and presenting my own range of product designs for the cosemtics company 'Wella'. I created a line of deodorant & hairspray containers for the use of endurance athletes called 'INVINCI'. I presented the designs to an executive manager from Wells, the Catchline manager, and my college tutors. My pitch was very well recieved. My audience said they were impressed by the presentation and my designs. The presentation boards are shown here (the highly detailed back, white & yellow designs with the icy mountin backdrop.

During the 2nd year of the course (2004-2005) my athletics training was at an all-time peak. My Running was as major a priority as my college work. However as i became a better runner, I also began to realise what my main passion was, and my training became less & less. Toward the end of 2005, I decided to focus my concentration into my art work.

In September 2005, I began my 3rd year of Graphic Design work, which would conclude by gaining an Advanced Diploma. This is where my journey into animation & film started.
My year began with what I entitled 'The Serene Project. I produced an extensively detailed A1 sized drawing of a fictional stucture I decided would be called Mount Serene. The massive working/residential structure is shaped as a defensively positioned Hand (also a representation of Peace). It was built on the section of land- Platinum Point, extended out from the city of Edinburgh onto the River Forth. The palm of the hand faces toward the eastern world in an almighty gesture of Peace.
(The main drawing of this design and accompanying photographic images are not currently shown on this webpage. I plan to present them as soon as possible.)

In this 3rd year of the course, I completed other design projects including a website, a concept for a CD-Rom, plus 2 short animations with the use of programs- Freehand, Photoshop and Director. I began to use existing music for the first time with my onscreen media. These used soundtracks included some of my favourite music such as- Hans Zimmer's scores from Gladiator & Batman Begins, James Horner's score from Braveheart, and Thomas Newman's score form Road to Perdition.
(These peices of media are not currently saved in a format which is publish-able on this webpage. But I do plan to present them here when I can.)

Biography: the beginning

Finishing High School in 2002, I immediately began a new adventure within the realm of athletics, with the focus on long distance running.
Whilst toiling away at a car sales company- cleaning 130 cars per week, I also pounded my feet on the road everyday, logging up to 40 miles per week. This began a habitual work ethic and a exhausting journey of thinking discovery.
Gradually cleared my sights & plans for future ambitions, I continued to run longer & harder, and completed the Edinburgh Marathon on 15th June 2003, also raising a substantial cash fund for the third world charity- Oxfam.
In the following 2 years, I drove my training into sprint speed sessions on the track and pushed my mileage beyond 50 per week. The inclusion of 17 mile long run every saturday for a year & 1/2 marked the productive peak of this lifestyle.
Toward the end of 2005, afer my 13th half marathon in Glasgow, I finally made the difficult decision to finish with athletics and begin focusing exclusively my first passion- Film.

The 1st Chapter. & an All New Story

"The future which had often been so clear to me had become like a black highway at night. We were in unknown territory now. Making up history as we went along..........." - Terminator 2: Judgement Day