Rory Mcliesh, concept designer and digital artist, shares his creative journey. Read on to learn his best advice and be among the first to see some of his unique artwork:

I’m Rory Mcleish and I’m a concept designer and digital artist. I design creatures, characters and vehicles using a combination of 2D drawing and 3D modelling and rendering techniques.

Rory Mcleish Concept Design Showreel from Rory McLeish on Vimeo.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, I grew up with the maturing medium of Television, and I was influenced and inspired by Doctor Who, Star Trek and the various Gerry Anderson series (Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, UFO etc). I was also very influenced (as were many other artists of my generation) by the fantastic creature design and stop-motion movie animation work of Ray Harryhausen.

After I left school, I studied Graphic Design and Photography at Glasgow School of Art. I then moved to Harrogate, North Yorkshire and found work as a musician and freelance traditional illustrator.

After a term in advertising as an illustrator, photographer and copywriter, I enrolled in a desktop publishing course at Harrogate college and discovered Photoshop and the novel world of CGI. I also saw Jurassic Park around this time, and that movie had a great impact on my career direction.

After the desktop publishing course, I spent several years as a video games artist working for various games development companies, including Team 17 Software and Mobius Entertainment (now Rockstar Leeds). I used these opportunities to develop my CG modelling, texture painting and lighting skills.

I left the UK in 2001 to work on movies in the United States. I spent the next 5 years employed as a visual effects artist at Digital Domain in Los Angeles, California.

Movies I worked on include Star Trek Nemesis, Stealth, The Day After Tomorrow, Flags of our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima. I was usually on the CG modelling team, and would end up lighting and rendering shots toward the end of the movie.

Since moving back to the UK I’ve been concentrating on learning new 3D software, including ZBrush, Modo and Vue. I’ve also been busy building up an online digital portfolio and rendering a concept design showreel. In addition, I teach part-time at Leeds Metropolitan University as an associate senior lecturer in digital media.

As is evident from my past, I come from a traditional art background and most of my concept idea generation is based primarily on drawing and sketching. Lots of drawing. If I have one big tip to offer anyone thinking of working in games, visual effects or any other form of creative visual media, it would be: Draw, and take up digital photography.

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