Another collaboration with Anya’s creative team, with set construction by Diagon. This show had ten rooms with animatronic effects and was influenced by pop-up books. Movements were controlled by my team of fifteen effects-builders from behind the sets.
I was senior mechanical designer for Queen of Hearts, built at Artem for the opening of the Olympics. A pop-up and inflatable puppet. It appeared alongside Voldemort and Captain Hook also made at Artem. The Queen’s bed had to rise three metres in the air – and with one person inside working the levers, it … Continue reading London Olympics 2012: Red Queen
A machine for a web launch of the Man + Hatchet web site. Built with the Great Andi-Andy Roberts in our studio in Dalston, on the cheap, out of shed scrap, an old engine and Tinguely-inspired.
This was my first project working together with Anya, Bevin Roper and the team. They wanted to introduce theatre and mechanical movement to a handbag fashion launch. Andrew Roberts and I were to help design and guide what mechanical effects could be possible for Michael Howells to include in his set designs. On the big … Continue reading Anya Hindmarch: All I Ever Wanted AW12
ForbTim Burton’s animation film, I worked in the puppet department under Andy Gent, improving the armature of Sparky the dog. It was first designed by Mackinnon & Saunders, but such a small creature is tricky for the animators to use. It needed the input and testing of Andy Gent’s team to get it right … Continue reading Frankenweenie (2012)
A six-metre-tall walking puppet of Lady Godiva for Coventry and London 2012. It was made with a team at Artem under Nick Martin. I was part of the crew on general design, and then focused on the head movements. See the completed puppet on this site. http://www.imagineerproductions.co.uk/content_links/6567/view The puppet is activated by four performers with … Continue reading Godiva Awakes (2012)
A very big challenge. This job was for the art project I Am Sad Leyla by Hussein Chalayan, and displayed at Galerist in Istanbul. The team made a wig that could change styles: fringe and hair-length grew and reversed again. We had layers of skullcaps to cope with the different styles and with onboard motors and … Continue reading Hussein Chalayan: Wig
This was made in London at Baker Coogan under Pete Brook from Jim Henson’s Creature shop in LA. Headed by Vin Burnham, I was responsible for leading the mechanical team creating the moving parts.
For Coulier Harrison SFX, I was a senior animatronic designer on this TV show A fantasy drama series on ITV: a contemporary spin on the legacy of Bram Stoker’s Dracula set above and beneath the streets of modern-day London. With Philip Glenister and Mackenzie Crook.
A mechanical hand bag with singing bird. I had an expert’s introduction into Victorian mechanical music boxes at Automatomania in Scotland, who also did the feathering. Electronics were by David Buckley in Manchester, and the fantastic making-of film (below) was by Dee Koppang.
Viral advert for Giffgaff mobile network made with Glyn Owen.
Baker Coogan for Disney. I was head SFX coordinator/prop master and special effects. The crew included some great students from Hatfield College. .