Experience

Existent

• United Kingdom
• Software Development
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer

  • May 2021 - Present

  Existent makes building physically interactive VR easy and fun. Entertainment, gaming, training, education, whatever the use case, fully transportive VR is a game changer. It's just really hard to make! Get in touch if you'd like to try it. As co-founder and COO my role is incredibly varied but, variously, includes: creative direction of all company's output; leading on strategic partnerships; fundraising; GTM strategy; operational strategy; financial management plus a… Show more Existent makes building physically interactive VR easy and fun. Entertainment, gaming, training, education, whatever the use case, fully transportive VR is a game changer. It's just really hard to make! Get in touch if you'd like to try it. As co-founder and COO my role is incredibly varied but, variously, includes: creative direction of all company's output; leading on strategic partnerships; fundraising; GTM strategy; operational strategy; financial management plus a great many other things. Show less Existent makes building physically interactive VR easy and fun. Entertainment, gaming, training, education, whatever the use case, fully transportive VR is a game changer. It's just really hard to make! Get in touch if you'd like to try it. As co-founder and COO my role is incredibly varied but, variously, includes: creative direction of all company's output; leading on strategic partnerships; fundraising; GTM strategy; operational strategy; financial management plus a… Show more Existent makes building physically interactive VR easy and fun. Entertainment, gaming, training, education, whatever the use case, fully transportive VR is a game changer. It's just really hard to make! Get in touch if you'd like to try it. As co-founder and COO my role is incredibly varied but, variously, includes: creative direction of all company's output; leading on strategic partnerships; fundraising; GTM strategy; operational strategy; financial management plus a great many other things. Show less



Blinkink

• United Kingdom
• Animation and Post-production
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Puppet Consultant / Puppeteer

  • Nov 2020 - Nov 2020

  "Welcome to the flavourhood" is a commercial for food delivery company DoorDash and was shown online, tv and through social media in Canada. I worked with my regular collaborator Jimmy Grimes on this project: we consulted on the puppet design and make and coordinated and performed the puppetry on set. It's a really smart, appealing advert using lots of mixed media. It was directed by Stevie Gee and Essy May and produced by Blink Studios. "Welcome to the flavourhood" is a commercial for food delivery company DoorDash and was shown online, tv and through social media in Canada. I worked with my regular collaborator Jimmy Grimes on this project: we consulted on the puppet design and make and coordinated and performed the puppetry on set. It's a really smart, appealing advert using lots of mixed media. It was directed by Stevie Gee and Essy May and produced by Blink Studios.



Hartswood Films

• United Kingdom
• Media Production
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Puppet Producer / Puppeteer

  • Sep 2020 - Nov 2020

  "Roald and Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse” is a Christmas movie released on Sky TV in Christmas 2020. It’s the heartwarming story of a six year old Roald Dahl journeying to meet his idol Beatrix Potter. Featuring Dawn French as Beatrix Potter and Harry Tayler as Roald Dahl, the cast also includes Bill Bailey, Rob Brydon, Nina Sosanya, Jessica Hynes, Nick Mohammed and Kevin Bishop as the voice of the Fox. ​ I worked with my collaborator Jimmy Grimes to create the puppets and… Show more "Roald and Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse” is a Christmas movie released on Sky TV in Christmas 2020. It’s the heartwarming story of a six year old Roald Dahl journeying to meet his idol Beatrix Potter. Featuring Dawn French as Beatrix Potter and Harry Tayler as Roald Dahl, the cast also includes Bill Bailey, Rob Brydon, Nina Sosanya, Jessica Hynes, Nick Mohammed and Kevin Bishop as the voice of the Fox. ​ I worked with my collaborator Jimmy Grimes to create the puppets and perform and coordinate the puppetry on set. The puppets were made from beautiful character designs by Thomas Harnett O'Meara from Rowdy. ​ It was a really great experience and one fo the first films to get back to production after the lockdown, so lots of people working extra hard to make sure everyone was as safe as possible. Directed by David Kerr Produced by Elaine Cameron Produced by Hartswood Films Animation and Puppetry Produced by Rowdy Show less "Roald and Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse” is a Christmas movie released on Sky TV in Christmas 2020. It’s the heartwarming story of a six year old Roald Dahl journeying to meet his idol Beatrix Potter. Featuring Dawn French as Beatrix Potter and Harry Tayler as Roald Dahl, the cast also includes Bill Bailey, Rob Brydon, Nina Sosanya, Jessica Hynes, Nick Mohammed and Kevin Bishop as the voice of the Fox. ​ I worked with my collaborator Jimmy Grimes to create the puppets and… Show more "Roald and Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse” is a Christmas movie released on Sky TV in Christmas 2020. It’s the heartwarming story of a six year old Roald Dahl journeying to meet his idol Beatrix Potter. Featuring Dawn French as Beatrix Potter and Harry Tayler as Roald Dahl, the cast also includes Bill Bailey, Rob Brydon, Nina Sosanya, Jessica Hynes, Nick Mohammed and Kevin Bishop as the voice of the Fox. ​ I worked with my collaborator Jimmy Grimes to create the puppets and perform and coordinate the puppetry on set. The puppets were made from beautiful character designs by Thomas Harnett O'Meara from Rowdy. ​ It was a really great experience and one fo the first films to get back to production after the lockdown, so lots of people working extra hard to make sure everyone was as safe as possible. Directed by David Kerr Produced by Elaine Cameron Produced by Hartswood Films Animation and Puppetry Produced by Rowdy Show less



Stage Entertainment

• Netherlands
• Entertainment Providers
• 700 & Above Employee

• Puppet Producer / Production Manager

  • Mar 2020 - Nov 2020

  Working with my regular collaborator Jimmy Grimes, we built these giant skeleton puppets for a new production of "Ich War Noch Niemals in New York" in Berlin and then tour. Here they are in the studio, with a link to a little making-of montage. The show was delayed due to the Coronavirus pandemic and is due to open in Autumn 2021. Working with my regular collaborator Jimmy Grimes, we built these giant skeleton puppets for a new production of "Ich War Noch Niemals in New York" in Berlin and then tour. Here they are in the studio, with a link to a little making-of montage. The show was delayed due to the Coronavirus pandemic and is due to open in Autumn 2021.



St Mary’s University, Twickenham

• United Kingdom
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Director / Writer

  • Jan 2020 - Mar 2020

  DOUBTFUL. HAPLESS. GUESTS. was a show created with 3rd Year acting students at St Mary's University Drama School. Inspired by the work of American artist and illustrator Edward Gorey, it was a puppet box set: three short pieces about strange invaders, unlucky children and giant insects. Appallingly funny, humorously disturbing, and occasionally flat out baffling with a variety of approaches to puppetry, this was a provocative, grown-up show with puppets. DOUBTFUL. HAPLESS. GUESTS. was a show created with 3rd Year acting students at St Mary's University Drama School. Inspired by the work of American artist and illustrator Edward Gorey, it was a puppet box set: three short pieces about strange invaders, unlucky children and giant insects. Appallingly funny, humorously disturbing, and occasionally flat out baffling with a variety of approaches to puppetry, this was a provocative, grown-up show with puppets.



Aardman

• United Kingdom
• Animation and Post-production
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Puppet Coordinator / Designer / Puppeteer

  • Sep 2019 - Oct 2019

  I created, with my company Brunskill and Grimes, the puppets and puppetry for this beautiful music video for Coldplay's song "Daddy" from their upcoming album "Everyday Life". It mixes live puppetry, stop motion and animation to weave a beguiling narrative of a young girl's journey through a sea of memories of her father. ​ I worked with the world famous Aardman studios (Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run, Morph) and director Åsa Lucander to bring Åsa's beautiful drawings from page to puppet… Show more I created, with my company Brunskill and Grimes, the puppets and puppetry for this beautiful music video for Coldplay's song "Daddy" from their upcoming album "Everyday Life". It mixes live puppetry, stop motion and animation to weave a beguiling narrative of a young girl's journey through a sea of memories of her father. ​ I worked with the world famous Aardman studios (Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run, Morph) and director Åsa Lucander to bring Åsa's beautiful drawings from page to puppet to screen. ​ It was the most amazing experience and working with Åsa and Aardman was a real privilege. ​ Full video will be out in a couple of weeks. ​ You can read more about it here: https://www.aardman.com/aardman-asa-lucander-music-video-coldplay-daddy/ ​ Directed by Åsa Lucander Produced by Aardman Animations Show less I created, with my company Brunskill and Grimes, the puppets and puppetry for this beautiful music video for Coldplay's song "Daddy" from their upcoming album "Everyday Life". It mixes live puppetry, stop motion and animation to weave a beguiling narrative of a young girl's journey through a sea of memories of her father. ​ I worked with the world famous Aardman studios (Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run, Morph) and director Åsa Lucander to bring Åsa's beautiful drawings from page to puppet… Show more I created, with my company Brunskill and Grimes, the puppets and puppetry for this beautiful music video for Coldplay's song "Daddy" from their upcoming album "Everyday Life". It mixes live puppetry, stop motion and animation to weave a beguiling narrative of a young girl's journey through a sea of memories of her father. ​ I worked with the world famous Aardman studios (Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run, Morph) and director Åsa Lucander to bring Åsa's beautiful drawings from page to puppet to screen. ​ It was the most amazing experience and working with Åsa and Aardman was a real privilege. ​ Full video will be out in a couple of weeks. ​ You can read more about it here: https://www.aardman.com/aardman-asa-lucander-music-video-coldplay-daddy/ ​ Directed by Åsa Lucander Produced by Aardman Animations Show less



Blinkink

• United Kingdom
• Animation and Post-production
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Puppetry Coordinator, Maker and Performer

  • Jul 2019 - Sep 2019

  Released October 2019, I worked with my regular collaborator, Jimmy Grimes for Brunskill and Grimes LTD, on this wonderful tv commercial for TransPennine Express, full of colourful characters. The commercial was shown on tv, online and through social media. The characters were also used for a major branding campaign for TransPennine Express. ​ We made the puppets, coordinated the puppeteers and puppetry on set and led on the performance for each shot. ​ We made 23 different… Show more Released October 2019, I worked with my regular collaborator, Jimmy Grimes for Brunskill and Grimes LTD, on this wonderful tv commercial for TransPennine Express, full of colourful characters. The commercial was shown on tv, online and through social media. The characters were also used for a major branding campaign for TransPennine Express. ​ We made the puppets, coordinated the puppeteers and puppetry on set and led on the performance for each shot. ​ We made 23 different puppets for this commercial and shot it all on a real train carriage. This involved lots of creative solutions to tight spaces and awkward camera angles. ​ The results is a really lovely, warm advert. Have a watch ​ The commercial was produced by Blink Studios and directed by Joseph Mann. Have a watch Show less Released October 2019, I worked with my regular collaborator, Jimmy Grimes for Brunskill and Grimes LTD, on this wonderful tv commercial for TransPennine Express, full of colourful characters. The commercial was shown on tv, online and through social media. The characters were also used for a major branding campaign for TransPennine Express. ​ We made the puppets, coordinated the puppeteers and puppetry on set and led on the performance for each shot. ​ We made 23 different… Show more Released October 2019, I worked with my regular collaborator, Jimmy Grimes for Brunskill and Grimes LTD, on this wonderful tv commercial for TransPennine Express, full of colourful characters. The commercial was shown on tv, online and through social media. The characters were also used for a major branding campaign for TransPennine Express. ​ We made the puppets, coordinated the puppeteers and puppetry on set and led on the performance for each shot. ​ We made 23 different puppets for this commercial and shot it all on a real train carriage. This involved lots of creative solutions to tight spaces and awkward camera angles. ​ The results is a really lovely, warm advert. Have a watch ​ The commercial was produced by Blink Studios and directed by Joseph Mann. Have a watch Show less



National Theatre

• Performing Arts
• 700 & Above Employee

• Director

  • Aug 2019 - Aug 2019

  In August 2019, I worked with the National Theatre to create a large scale, outdoor project with 50 participants aged 16-22. Over a week we developed their skills as devisers and puppeteers which culminated in an open air performance for the public as part of the National Theatre’s River Stage programme. In August 2019, I worked with the National Theatre to create a large scale, outdoor project with 50 participants aged 16-22. Over a week we developed their skills as devisers and puppeteers which culminated in an open air performance for the public as part of the National Theatre’s River Stage programme.



Blinkink

• United Kingdom
• Animation and Post-production
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Puppetry Design Consultant and Performer

  • Feb 2019 - Mar 2019

  I created a series of puppet and object manipulation mechanisms with my colleague, Jimmy Grimes, for a TV advert for "Anchor Butter". This included puppet characters, and various other mechanisms for the practical effects elements of the advert. I also performed the puppetry and object manipulation for the shoot. I created a series of puppet and object manipulation mechanisms with my colleague, Jimmy Grimes, for a TV advert for "Anchor Butter". This included puppet characters, and various other mechanisms for the practical effects elements of the advert. I also performed the puppetry and object manipulation for the shoot.



Meadowhall

• Sheffield, United Kingdom

• Director/Creator/Producer

  • Nov 2017 - Dec 2017

  Christmas 2017 saw me create a unique, bespoke experience for Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield featuring three larger-than-life Reindeer puppets: a mother, a father and a calf. These magnificent beasts paraded through the shopping centre, interacting with the public and creating a unique Christmas encounter for people of all ages. This was created with my company Brunskill and Grimes. Christmas 2017 saw me create a unique, bespoke experience for Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield featuring three larger-than-life Reindeer puppets: a mother, a father and a calf. These magnificent beasts paraded through the shopping centre, interacting with the public and creating a unique Christmas encounter for people of all ages. This was created with my company Brunskill and Grimes.



Young Vic

• United Kingdom
• Performing Arts
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Writer/Director

  • May 2017 - Jul 2017

  I wrote and directed "The Space Between" in a "Brunskill and Grimes" production for the Young Vic Theatre's Taking Part department. It was created for a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities audience. I wrote and directed "The Space Between" in a "Brunskill and Grimes" production for the Young Vic Theatre's Taking Part department. It was created for a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities audience.



Longleat

• United Kingdom
• Leisure, Travel & Tourism
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Director

  • Jul 2016 - Sep 2016

  As part of Longleat Safari Park's 50th Anniversary celebrations I devised and Directed a daily theatrical parade with a 7ft Puppet, dancers, floats and original music. As part of Longleat Safari Park's 50th Anniversary celebrations I devised and Directed a daily theatrical parade with a 7ft Puppet, dancers, floats and original music.



National Theatre

• Performing Arts
• 700 & Above Employee

• Associate Director - War Horse, West end

  • Sep 2014 - Mar 2016

  I cast and directed the new company for War Horse in the West End and creatively led the company on a day-to-day basis.

• Resident Director - War Horse, West End

  • Sep 2012 - Sep 2014

• Writer/Director

  • Sep 2012 - Dec 2012

  I devised, wrote and directed a play with young people aged 14-18 with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The play was created in response to "The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Nighttime" and played in the National Theatre Studio.

• Staff Director

  • May 2012 - Sep 2012

  I was Staff Director for the National Theatre's production of "The Doctor's Dilemma". I assisted in the direction of the play, directed with the understudies and was the creative contact throughout the length of the run of the play

• Associate Director

  • Aug 2012 - Aug 2012

  I was Associate director on the World Premiere of Bryony Lavery's play "Cesario". Assisting and leading on rehearsals.



FABRIC

• United Kingdom
• Performing Arts
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director

  • May 2012 - Jun 2012

  I devised and directed the flagship show for International Dance Festival Birmingham 2012. Working with four choreographers, professional dancers and a huge range or young people, students, organisations and societies, we created a daily, moving piece of dance on the streets on Birmingham in response to the theme of "home". I devised and directed the flagship show for International Dance Festival Birmingham 2012. Working with four choreographers, professional dancers and a huge range or young people, students, organisations and societies, we created a daily, moving piece of dance on the streets on Birmingham in response to the theme of "home".