I started my working life in the glorious world of print.
I wasn't a designer though, no I worked on the factory floor minding huge paper cutting machines for hours on end. It was dirty, it was cold and quite dangerous now that I think back.
In the winter the large doors would be wide open for deliveries and we froze. In the summer the machines gave off unbearable heat and we would sweat buckets. We would cut our fingers daily on the paper which would fill with oil from the machines and over time would become hardened and tough. My wife always commented on how I smelt when I got home in the evening.
We would have to keep the machines running with oil and grease and the smell would travel home with me stained into my work clothes.
Machines are loud, when they press down and cut the paper a loud 'crack' would echo across the factory floor, multiply that by 6 or 7 machines and one crack every half second with the radio blaring out over the top and you might start to understand what its like.
I did this jobs for 10 whole years of my life.
It's a place that over time eventually broke my mind, not because I was weaker than the rest but because I knew I had more to give.
"There has to be something more than this"
During every spare second I had in that place I would draw characters and scenarios across scrap bits of paper, over pallet tops and even on the sides of the machines (much to my bosses frustration). I did this for the duration of my time in that place and it allowed me a small release. I would flick through magazines whilst working reading about visual fx in film and getting excited about the next big sci fi movies coming out . Way back then I was putting together the pieces of what would eventually turn into a new career which seemed completely impossible at the time..just a pipe dream.
People started to notice my drawings, delivery drivers started to say "you are wasted here mate" and before long the aching to follow my creativity whilst restricted in that place brought me to my knees and I broke. Total meltdown, complete emotional breakdown in the midst of work and my co workers. The meltdown itself was a mix of sadness and the feeling of not being real, not part of the word that I knew so well. My heart would race, palpitations, visits to hospital with a heart rate way to high for resting. All of this was anxiety, I know this now but back in the early 2000's it wasn't really anything I had heard of. I even had a brain scan!
My Dr suggested I went to see a professional.
I saw a councilor/psychiatrist - no i'm not crazy, well maybe (all the best people are :) and he- like some magical mind doctor dug and dug and broke through every barrier over a 2 month period until he pulled out a small glowing light from my mind and held it there in his hand-metaphorically speaking of course.
I wasn't a designer though, no I worked on the factory floor minding huge paper cutting machines for hours on end. It was dirty, it was cold and quite dangerous now that I think back.
In the winter the large doors would be wide open for deliveries and we froze. In the summer the machines gave off unbearable heat and we would sweat buckets. We would cut our fingers daily on the paper which would fill with oil from the machines and over time would become hardened and tough. My wife always commented on how I smelt when I got home in the evening.
We would have to keep the machines running with oil and grease and the smell would travel home with me stained into my work clothes.
Machines are loud, when they press down and cut the paper a loud 'crack' would echo across the factory floor, multiply that by 6 or 7 machines and one crack every half second with the radio blaring out over the top and you might start to understand what its like.
I did this jobs for 10 whole years of my life.
It's a place that over time eventually broke my mind, not because I was weaker than the rest but because I knew I had more to give.
"There has to be something more than this"
During every spare second I had in that place I would draw characters and scenarios across scrap bits of paper, over pallet tops and even on the sides of the machines (much to my bosses frustration). I did this for the duration of my time in that place and it allowed me a small release. I would flick through magazines whilst working reading about visual fx in film and getting excited about the next big sci fi movies coming out . Way back then I was putting together the pieces of what would eventually turn into a new career which seemed completely impossible at the time..just a pipe dream.
People started to notice my drawings, delivery drivers started to say "you are wasted here mate" and before long the aching to follow my creativity whilst restricted in that place brought me to my knees and I broke. Total meltdown, complete emotional breakdown in the midst of work and my co workers. The meltdown itself was a mix of sadness and the feeling of not being real, not part of the word that I knew so well. My heart would race, palpitations, visits to hospital with a heart rate way to high for resting. All of this was anxiety, I know this now but back in the early 2000's it wasn't really anything I had heard of. I even had a brain scan!
My Dr suggested I went to see a professional.
I saw a councilor/psychiatrist - no i'm not crazy, well maybe (all the best people are :) and he- like some magical mind doctor dug and dug and broke through every barrier over a 2 month period until he pulled out a small glowing light from my mind and held it there in his hand-metaphorically speaking of course.
That little light was my future and my creativity and it had no place in the world I was used to.
He told me I must change direction NOW.
The first thing I did was try to explore computer art in my spare time outside of that place. I got a home computer and photoshop and tried my hand at digital art. I entered a competition in a magazine and won !
I sent my work to another magazine and it was featured!
So there was something in this and I had proof !
I spoke with my beautiful understanding wife who had seen my madness unfold for months and she said "lets sell the flat, move and use the money to put you into this new visual world"
"But! we have got one chance at this though so let's make it count"
That statement to this day is the single reason I am here doing this. If my wife had said "oh come on you will get over this" I would not of been able to move into this new amazing world that I love so much.
We had our first daughter at the time and it meant a huge change for us all.
We left London and moved to Cambridge where rent was cheaper and I traveled into London daily for VFX training at Escape studios in Shepherds bush.
My wife and daughter had to find their own way during this time in a new and unfamiliar place.
He told me I must change direction NOW.
The first thing I did was try to explore computer art in my spare time outside of that place. I got a home computer and photoshop and tried my hand at digital art. I entered a competition in a magazine and won !
I sent my work to another magazine and it was featured!
So there was something in this and I had proof !
I spoke with my beautiful understanding wife who had seen my madness unfold for months and she said "lets sell the flat, move and use the money to put you into this new visual world"
"But! we have got one chance at this though so let's make it count"
That statement to this day is the single reason I am here doing this. If my wife had said "oh come on you will get over this" I would not of been able to move into this new amazing world that I love so much.
We had our first daughter at the time and it meant a huge change for us all.
We left London and moved to Cambridge where rent was cheaper and I traveled into London daily for VFX training at Escape studios in Shepherds bush.
My wife and daughter had to find their own way during this time in a new and unfamiliar place.
We spent thousands on visual fx courses in London, learning from the greatest minds in the industry . Money became tight so this really was such a massive gamble.
I found the other love of my life in London, my companion and the thing that keeps my mind constantly busy -Maya. (Autodesk Maya)
Maya if you dont know is a 3d computer software used in Film and TV which is an open landscape for creating, well anything really.
Maya can be cruel and difficult, friendly, hard to grasp, one minute she likes you, then next shes closing down all avenues and you have to fight to get what you want. That's until you start to master it and I am only just getting to master Maya 15 years after firing it up for the first time. Over time Maya has improved along with me and now our relationship is on an even playing field, Maya is showing me new things and I am grasping them with open arms.
I found the other love of my life in London, my companion and the thing that keeps my mind constantly busy -Maya. (Autodesk Maya)
Maya if you dont know is a 3d computer software used in Film and TV which is an open landscape for creating, well anything really.
Maya can be cruel and difficult, friendly, hard to grasp, one minute she likes you, then next shes closing down all avenues and you have to fight to get what you want. That's until you start to master it and I am only just getting to master Maya 15 years after firing it up for the first time. Over time Maya has improved along with me and now our relationship is on an even playing field, Maya is showing me new things and I am grasping them with open arms.
Its now becoming a symphony of artist and machine, I cant describe how that feels but it is a sublime feeling.
I finished my courses where I was surrounded by art degree students, to say I felt out of my league was an understatement but once I met Maya I soon showed that I had skill in this area with or without a degree through creativity bursting to get out.
I came home after the 12 week intensive course without a job, I locked myself in a room for 6 months with Maya, polishing my showreel, working for free, borowing money from my parents and for a short while I was on benefits which was a low point for me. I kept looking for leads (grinding) and finally my first break.
This break meant driving for 'three and a half hours' each way everyday for 3 months. The pay was poor and the company and people that ran it (which I wont mention) were the very worst I have come across to date, so much so that I rarely think about it and completely cast it out of my mind of somewhere that I worked. But I do remember the effort I made to be there on time everyday.
Then came my second break, the place where I learnt VFX (escape studios) wanted me to come and work for them in the gaming industry HELL YES! I worked on a game title called Tycoon City New York , got credits on the game and then came my third break...
Escape called me and said that the BBC where looking for someone and would I like to go in for an interview BOOM!
I nailed the interview, not just because of my work but because they said that I 'fit'. I have always been of the mind to be humble and I felt this helped. Humble but beneath the surface a burning desire to always get to the next step.Always advancing.
In hindsight I have learnt that my factory days were not a total waste of time, I learnt about hard work in that place and this new world was all about hard work to get where you wanted to go)
I finished my courses where I was surrounded by art degree students, to say I felt out of my league was an understatement but once I met Maya I soon showed that I had skill in this area with or without a degree through creativity bursting to get out.
I came home after the 12 week intensive course without a job, I locked myself in a room for 6 months with Maya, polishing my showreel, working for free, borowing money from my parents and for a short while I was on benefits which was a low point for me. I kept looking for leads (grinding) and finally my first break.
This break meant driving for 'three and a half hours' each way everyday for 3 months. The pay was poor and the company and people that ran it (which I wont mention) were the very worst I have come across to date, so much so that I rarely think about it and completely cast it out of my mind of somewhere that I worked. But I do remember the effort I made to be there on time everyday.
Then came my second break, the place where I learnt VFX (escape studios) wanted me to come and work for them in the gaming industry HELL YES! I worked on a game title called Tycoon City New York , got credits on the game and then came my third break...
Escape called me and said that the BBC where looking for someone and would I like to go in for an interview BOOM!
I nailed the interview, not just because of my work but because they said that I 'fit'. I have always been of the mind to be humble and I felt this helped. Humble but beneath the surface a burning desire to always get to the next step.Always advancing.
In hindsight I have learnt that my factory days were not a total waste of time, I learnt about hard work in that place and this new world was all about hard work to get where you wanted to go)
So I started at the BBC. I worked on mediocre money for the first month or so and then they asked me to stay on for another 3 months on a standard freelance rate which was four times more money per week than what I was used to. I was over the moon (and so was my wife :)
From here I moved into another department of the BBC and stayed there for about 3 years having my contract renewed over and over again until they asked me to go full time.
After a few years of working on channel re-brands, title sequences and documentaries I felt I could move into a new area and try and go it alone as a small company.
Just before leaving the BBC I had been invited to Google to look at some 'private work' which I did while still working at the BBC but from home whilst I was home sick. By sick I mean I was actually quite ill. I had got an illness called Ulcerative Collitis which isn't nice (although completely under control now) but it reinforced the need to work from home. So Google was my very first client :) Amazing isn't it?!
I started to do freelance work for the likes of Google, Virgin Atalntic, Volvo, BBC and so many more post production company's that I decided it was the perfect time to go it alone, to come back to my family.
Before I left the BBC I looked back from where I had come from to where I was.
I did this whilst standing in the Costa coffee queue inside the BBC with celebrities walking around (Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Hugh Jackman, Arnie so many more) and I just laughed, grinning like some wild Cheshire cat - I must of looked mental.
I set up Strangebox http://www.strangebox.co.uk which is my own little VFX company now with many years of experience in creating all sorts of 3d and visual effects. I've worked with tons of huge brands and television channels, I've helped re-brand entire channels, worked on well known title sequences, created tv commercials and corporate videos and worked in a BAFTA award winning team, I've helped write books on Maya and run a Maya educational YouTube channel with thousands of subscribers.I am now also a BETA tester for Mayas internal Houdini like software called Bifrost and I do quite a bit of work for Autodesk including some of thier marketing videos where they use 'MY' examples to show off their software.
From here I moved into another department of the BBC and stayed there for about 3 years having my contract renewed over and over again until they asked me to go full time.
After a few years of working on channel re-brands, title sequences and documentaries I felt I could move into a new area and try and go it alone as a small company.
Just before leaving the BBC I had been invited to Google to look at some 'private work' which I did while still working at the BBC but from home whilst I was home sick. By sick I mean I was actually quite ill. I had got an illness called Ulcerative Collitis which isn't nice (although completely under control now) but it reinforced the need to work from home. So Google was my very first client :) Amazing isn't it?!
I started to do freelance work for the likes of Google, Virgin Atalntic, Volvo, BBC and so many more post production company's that I decided it was the perfect time to go it alone, to come back to my family.
Before I left the BBC I looked back from where I had come from to where I was.
I did this whilst standing in the Costa coffee queue inside the BBC with celebrities walking around (Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Hugh Jackman, Arnie so many more) and I just laughed, grinning like some wild Cheshire cat - I must of looked mental.
I set up Strangebox http://www.strangebox.co.uk which is my own little VFX company now with many years of experience in creating all sorts of 3d and visual effects. I've worked with tons of huge brands and television channels, I've helped re-brand entire channels, worked on well known title sequences, created tv commercials and corporate videos and worked in a BAFTA award winning team, I've helped write books on Maya and run a Maya educational YouTube channel with thousands of subscribers.I am now also a BETA tester for Mayas internal Houdini like software called Bifrost and I do quite a bit of work for Autodesk including some of thier marketing videos where they use 'MY' examples to show off their software.
So here I am now, in a good place and Crypto Art enters my world. This is my next 'thing', no more than that this is my Ultimate thing . This is a way I can get those little drawings and ideas I had in that factory for so many years ago, out into the world, and if I am lucky enough, get paid for doing so!
The uprising of the artist is something I am firmly behind and happy to be a part of. So move along clients, thank you for the years of support you have given me but it's time, once again for me to make my next move.
I feel like now is the time to look back at all of those characters I drew, all of those crazy designs I made and start to bring them into my world again.
And so this little site is devoted to that. A small story in an ocean of stories, but if you happen upon this send me an email and say hello.
phil@strangebox.co.uk
I want to express my love for my wife and children that have been by my side along this crazy journey.They are my everything.
X
The uprising of the artist is something I am firmly behind and happy to be a part of. So move along clients, thank you for the years of support you have given me but it's time, once again for me to make my next move.
I feel like now is the time to look back at all of those characters I drew, all of those crazy designs I made and start to bring them into my world again.
And so this little site is devoted to that. A small story in an ocean of stories, but if you happen upon this send me an email and say hello.
phil@strangebox.co.uk
I want to express my love for my wife and children that have been by my side along this crazy journey.They are my everything.
X