I'm an illustrator and animator based in Essex, with over 15 years experience working in digital design and marketing.
Alongside my illustration, I specialise in creating 2D hand-drawn and vector animations, storyboards, logos and visual identities.
My Background
At foundation level I studied illustration and typography, and at University I completed a degree in hand-drawn animation.
After leaving Uni I joined Think Jam: a global digital marketing agency specialising in film, TV and social media promotion. I spent 10 amazing years here, initially working as a storyboard artist, sketching concepts for marketing campaigns, and then progressing into digital design (including Flash animation: RIP!), motion graphics, video editing and social media content creation.
In 2018 I went freelance to pursue my main passions: illustration and animation. I’ve always enjoyed sketching, drawing and creating frame-by-frame animations, and I am lucky to be able to incorporate them into both my personal and my client work.
My Influences
I believe everything should tell a story. Whether it's a print, a book cover, an animation or a logo: it needs to convey a narrative, and create an experience.
I admire storytelling in any medium, but particularly in films, books, graphic novels and games. I’m hugely inspired by film directors such as Hayao Miyazaki, Spielberg, Del Toro & Tim Burton.
Perhaps the single biggest influence to me has been Walt Disney. The earlier (and darker) Disney films in particular I believe are timeless works of art: Pinocchio, Fantasia & Sleeping Beauty. The Art of Walt Disney is possibly one of my most precious books, and I am constantly returning to it for reference!
Graphic novels and comics are an amazingly important art form: a rare combination of literature and sequential visual art. Their covers alone are works of art luring you into their stories. I was obsessed with Warren Ellis’ Transmetropolitan and Alan Moore’s Batman: The Killing Joke and From Hell: their influence can be seen in many recent sci-fi and horror films.
Growing up I was fascinated by the imagination of Roald Dahl and of course the fantastic work by Quentin Blake. I’d spent hours reading Dorling Kindersley books featuring impossibly-detailed work by Stephen Biesty. I also loved getting lost in Hergé’s The Adventures of Tin Tin.
Some of the greatest stories are also told in games - to name a few of my faves: Bioshock, Grim Fandango, Horizon: Zero Dawn and Tomb Raider.
My Work
I love creating vibrant, detailed and energetic illustrations.
Life drawing, storyboarding and conceptualising are all hugely important parts of my design process.
All of my work is created digitally in ProCreate: wherever possible I try to retain a hand-drawn aesthetic, to emulate the feel of traditional drawing. And I love to bring my drawings to life using 2D animation and motion graphics.
We live in a world where AI is in danger of sucking the soul from creative industries. I believe art and ideas should come from human minds, rather than a computer prompt.
I am open to new projects, collaborations and commissions. Please get in touch!
Direct email: davemccallart@gmail.com
Download my CV here.
