About Us

“I trained as an architect for 7 years. I loved it. I loved the ideas, the “blank canvas”, creating something out of nothing, the open possibilities, the deep discussion. But it was just too slow. Often it’s 5 years or more to get a project built? That’s a long time to wait to see the fruits of your labour. Respect to those who can, but I needed something a bit more immediate, reduce the “idea to finished product” timeline a bit, keep things moving and life interesting.

The architecture world did appeal to the perfectionist in me though, the absolute attention to detail from the big idea down to the last nut and bolt. Thinking big and small at the same time...... I think that developing a successful studio is often about paying attention to the details, thinking about how things can be done differently on the micro and macro levels, introducing new ideas and initiatives that make it a great place to work and a great place to be.

The Neighbourhood to me is, to paraphrase a wonderful Honda advert – “what if?”. Too many people are doing “ok”, “fine”, “not bad”, “alright”. How about “great”, “inspirational”, “let’s try something new”. I still love the “blank canvas” of a new project. Some may find it scary, I find it exhilarating!

Start thinking like this and suddenly all manner of things become possible...... The day that I stop thinking like this is the day that you’ll find me retired, living in the mountains, snowboarding. But then again, that is also my kind of perfection!”

"A great mentor early on in my career told me that building a creative company was a bit like putting together a great band. He was a fan of the renegade Californian school of thought that spawned the likes of Apple and Pixar. Entrepreneurial  spirit mixed with passion, enthusiasm and a rock n roll attitude of being willing to tear up the rule book. That piece of advice has stayed with me, as a musician I can see the parallels  in terms of getting the right mix of personalities and skills needed to make things work.

You need a good rhythm section at the heart of things, rock solid and reliable keeping it steady but moving forward at the same time. Good soloists are important adding spicy flourishes to the mix, elevating the energy and turning up the heat. You also need someone who can write some tunes, guide the overall creative output and keep it fresh, which is I guess where I fit in. Perhaps most important though is a wayward collaborative spirit, creating the right vibe necessary to make moments of inspiration happen, all working to a common goal and holding a totally unshakable belief that you are the best in the world.

This way of thinking about things keeps me doing what I do, striving towards the next great piece of work, buzzing off the next great moment of inspiration and knowing that tomorrow may open up a new avenue to explore or a new idea.

Still waiting for the groupies and the free rider though!"

“The power of the still image has always been my main passion. A picture paints a thousand words or something like that. CGI can sometimes be a technical exercise but it is just a tool at the end of the day. To create memorable images you have to employ good compositional rules, use balance, contrast, light and shade to bring atmosphere and drama to a scene.

I am inspired by the great photographers such as Hedrich Blessing and Alfred Stieglitz, the way they seek out the best angle to capture an essence and moment in time. The films of Pixar are also equally inspiring - so visually rich with a level of depth and subtlety within their 3D renders. Nearly every frame stands up as a great still image.

I love the search for perfection when I work, computers allow a great deal of freedom and flexibility to help reach that sweet spot. Often something comes from trying out lots of variations, changing the light here, upping the contrast there - the paint never dries, you can continually try out lots of ideas. I get much more satisfaction when I know something is the best it can be.”

"My official title is Studio Manager.  And it’s my job is to make The Neighbourhood the most fantastic place it can possibly be. 

A studio to love and be proud of.  A studio you want to be a part of and shout about.  Just not in the streets, or you’d get arrested.

I’m Mother to the Hoodies and chief problem-solver.  Keeping a careful eye on where we’re heading as a company and making sure that everyone has a great big smile on their face.  No, bigger than that.  That’s better.

I’ve got over 12 years' industry experience, but I’m always up for learning something new.  And although I’m not as ‘hands on’ project-wise these days, I’m still involved in the creative process, as The Neighbourhood develops and evolves.

I love working in this vibrant environment and over the years that I’ve been here, I’ve had the pleasure of working with a real talented bunch. Moving into our new studio last year was a big step and our home is a place I love to care for and look after.

When I’m not beavering away at The Neighbourhood, I adore a good cookathon, generally having a bloody good dance whilst I’m at it!

I love bobbing up to the Lakes at any given opportunity for a great walk and a pint or two...and sometimes a spot of kite flying on a good day!

Much to my husband’s delight(!), I’ve recently started to play the saxophone and have just learnt the theme tune to Red Dwarf. And how can I forget my favourite past time scrabble?  It’s ‘tremendous’ (scores 13 points)."

"I’ve always enjoyed being part of a creative process since the good old days of papier mache and plasticine. After wanting to create my own comic books as a teenager, my fascination with shape, colour and tall tales eventually morphed into a passion for cinema, which I went onto study at university. I love the craft of articulating stories, thoughts and feelings through imagery, motion and sound - that’s why I jumped at the chance to work for The Neighbourhood.

I also really enjoy being part of a supportive, creative team and think there are so many new skills to be learned and ideas to be generated from working in this way. I believe that a successful project requires a lot of hard work at all levels of production, and hopefully my role in the engine room of The Neighbourhood will mean that I can contribute my part to the great work produced.

Life is a learning curve and I think it’s important to always be involved in lots of creative projects so as to keep yourself motivated, eclectic and on the ball when it comes to new ideas. That’s why in my spare time you’ll find me writing, taking pictures on my oktomat or making colourful decoupage jewellery!"

"5 things about me:

I am always smiley
I am a born organiser
I am the same height as Kylie Minogue
I have a pair of bossy boots
I am addicted to scrabble

From the tender age of 10, I happily organised my 3 younger siblings, regularly making them clean and tidy my parent’s house from top to bottom. 
This was much to my mother’s delight, and to my brothers and sister’s dismay. 

It seems, I was destined to project manage.

My love of English and creative writing, as well as a passion for the theatre and television, led me very naturally to a career in the creative.  Over the past 13 years I’ve been privileged to work with some of the animation greats. 
Bob, Pingu, and Sam Tyler to name but a few.  

I love seeing a project from the very seed of an idea through to it’s finished glory.  I love to schedule and budget, and to come up with a plan.  I love the creative pow-wows.  And I love watching incredibly talented people come together to produce something awe-inspiring.

So work aside, what other little ditties can I tell you about me.

I have the music taste of a teenage girl from the 90’s, I have two overly-fussed ginger cats, and I love to grow my own veg.  I also make a pretty mean chocolate and raspberry cheesecake.

I am thrilled to be part of such a super cool, creative bunch as The Neighbourhood, and very much hope that they will all come to love scrabble as much as I do."

"Many years ago a teacher stressed the importance of choosing the correct subjects to study at school, as these would shape my future. Whilst I appreciate his point, things couldn’t have been more different for me. Somewhat of a lost soul, never really ‘knowing’ what it was I wanted to do, I took the path of variety. After getting my law degree from Leeds University, I went on to work in roles at a golf clothing company, a Home Office project, and eventually finding myself at property developers Argent Group. It was here that I was first introduced to the work of The Neighbourhood - who knew that two years on I’d be working for them myself!

Although I used to worry about my disjointed career path, I now think it’s one of my biggest advantages. Being exposed to new industries, people and skills helps me to constantly learn, adapt, broaden my skills and hopefully improve. They say some things in life are ‘rare to find, but great when found’ I think my opportunity at The Neighbourhood is exactly that; I may well have found my ‘path’.

Beyond the scope of work, I enjoy discovering new places along with the usual pleasures of life - friends, food and wine. Preferably all at once with a nice photograph to make the memory last when our minds have gone!!"

"I started walking down the design path before I was old enough to start to thinking about it. My dad was and is a graphic design lecturer and my mum has been working in and around creative areas since I can remember: painting, pottery, leather carving, garden design etc. I think it was only natural I would get involved and pick up some of this creative stuff.

Outside of work I play as much football as I can and I love cycling - I have too many bikes :) I started off mountain biking around yorkshire then quickly developed a taste for it and have been cycling around cumbria, wales, scotland and last year the Pyrenees to satisfy my off road passions.

As I've lived in London for the last 5 years I naturally picked up a fixie / single speed fetish which has now developed into a road riding / touring thing and recently manifested itself in a solo 1000+ mile ride from Lands End to John O'Groats which was pretty epic."

"For as long as I can remember I've been able to sit and entertain myself with merely a pencil and wad of paper 'acquired' from a nearby printer. That was generally all I needed, as well as a bit of imagination of course! I wasn't a child who drew stick-men families in front of houses though, I was always more fond of recalling detail and building on that. I remember in my early years at school being sent to the headmaster with some of my early work! We were asked to draw home with crayons, my class mates as you would expect drew the usual rectangle with triangle on top and a chimney with smoke pouring out, then grass in front, smiley faced sunshine in the sky...I drew my actual house! I don't think I was even 10 years old! It had the correct uPVC front door, brass house number, roof slates, double glazed windows with leading, drainpipes, etc etc. I guess it was inevitable for me to end up down this path!

My love of form and composition was something that grew more and more through university really. Product design and development (more putting pencil to paper!) It was here I was introduced to the world of 3ds max! Again whilst everyone else were making boxes and spheres I attempted to build a car, and I don't mean something like a car, I mean I downloaded blueprints of an Audi and went from there...maybe not so successfully but the passion for detail was once again apparent!

I've been in the arch vis world for going on 5 years now and whether it's that one beautiful image or an immersive animation, I'm still striving for that detail, for that communication of form...and for the question that makes the majority of us in this industry smile...'is that real!?' "

“Being able to do creative stuff everyday is great.  It gives me the opportunity to develop my skills and learn new ones, there's always something exciting and new going on here!!!!

Always been into art and design, as a kid sketching away! Then went to university in Manchester and studied interior design where I was introduced to 3D art as a tool for expressing my designs. It was then when I realised that this was a great way of creating cool images, the rest is history.

I get excited by the process of taking a design and scuplting a form to realise it, you can see your ideas take shape 3 dimensionally. Following it though to post production, giving it the final shine is the best bit. When the results turn out it’s really rewarding, and I get a real buzz out of what I have achieved.

Spending time away from the computer is also important for me, I still love to draw and am always looking for new images to work on in my spare time. I always have a project on the go, I may not always finish them but it’s a way of keeping my creative juices flowing.”

"A bit about me? Well, where do I start? I'm crazy about innovation and learning, especially when it comes to finding new ways to create and share experiences.

I'm a fully self taught 3D artist, definitely a generalist, and wouldn't like to change that! I love being challenged by every project, and solving each new brief in a new and hopefully unique way.

These days I also find myself drawn towards the growing world of physical computing, interactive art and all sorts of new and interesting ways of creating that sought after 'wow factor'.

Things are certainly stepping up a gear here at the neighbourhood, and I'm very excited to be a part of it all.....keep watching this space :)"

"For my first job out after University I wanted to be somewhere where I could work on a variety of projects and continue to learn new skills. I already had experience of working in 3d visualization when on my placement year from Huddersfield University, and although I'm grateful for the experience I spent the most part doodling in a note pad wishing I was doing something more exciting and creative.

I have a great interest in graphic design and illustration and really admire highly detailed and complex artwork, which you can look at a number of times and get something different out of it. I also enjoy mixed media work, combining 3d, hand drawn elements and vector art, giving a piece another dimension.

What I really enjoy is character animation. I love to create cute and quirky creatures and find it really satisfying when they are brought to life. I think one of the main factors in me being drawn to this field of work was Art Attack. I loved that programme and would always set out to make whatever Neil Buchanan was making. Due to PVA glue being banned in our house, which everything in that show seemed to include, I had to come up with my own ideas which possibly made me more creative.

This was probably my first experience of design with constraints!

Away from work my other passion Leeds United and I can often be found in the stands cheering on yet another season of joy followed ultimately by disappointment!"

"My first animation was undertaken at the age of 12 - a cowboy themed claymation thing done during lunchtimes with a friend at school. Looking back it wasn't my most successful project, thanks to melty plasticine and under-exposed film - despite weeks of work . I did however develop a deep love for art during that time, and carried it (along with a love of music) with me through several years of engineering and computer based education. About 15 years ago, by way of an Amiga magazine cover disk, I discovered 3D graphics - the perfect combination of my three great loves; art, computing and engineering - and was instantly hooked.

I've been lucky enough since then to have worked on a wide range of broadcast projects, from the BBC's "Son of God" to ITV's "Headcases" and even Virtual Racing, but having stuck with the same company for almost 13 years, I discovered upon their sad demise that I knew almost nothing of the outside world.

Finding a new job is a bit like buying a new house I think, and for me finding The Neighbourhood was like that beautiful feeling you get when you just know a place is right for you. After my first week's trial I'd forgotten I was the new guy and the place just felt like home. Joining The Neighbourhood has given me the chance to do what I enjoy most - learn new stuff, and get to know a great bunch of people.

I play guitar and banjo (the latter rather badly) whenever I get the opportunity, but try to spend as much of my free time hanging out with my large and slightly unconventional family."

“About 8 years ago I was at college studying Fine Art and selling portraits to make a bit of money, my lecturer at the time said to me "you really need to think about what you want to do with your career or your going to end up sitting on a pier somewhere drawing people for a living". My first thought was 'football', but as that didn't quite pan out.

I found a Technical Illustration course in Blackpool (of all places) which introduced me to 3d.  This course enabled me to fuse my passion of Art & Design with todays most powerful tool 'the computer'.

It was following this course I found the perfect platform, the 'limitless' world of Architecture. Bringing to life an Architects vision with Art and Creativity is something I feel extremely privileged to be doing. Each day brings something new and exciting. 

A quote from one of my fave fine artist Lucian Freud reads "A painter must think of everything he sees as being there entirely for his own use and pleasure."

This is how I look at being a 3D Artist, when given the design and brief from a client I bring this to life through my own passion and enjoyment. Although I still create portraits in my spare time to feed my hunger for Fine Art, 3D Art leaves you with no boundaries to your imagination.

I now do what I love in a City that has also bought me closer to another huge passion of mine 'Manchester United' I've found my Mecca!”

"I am a Yorkshire lad fresh from University who has just been released into the design world ready to get stuck in.

When I was young-un, I used to have this large box of Lego and every rainy weekend that bad-boy was tipped all over the front room floor and it was time for the building to commence (much to my mum’s delight!). This was probably my first experience of design and where I found my love of getting hands on. Even at school I knew I wanted to do something design orientated as I couldn’t just sit there doing all the academic subjects my mates were good at. I was too fidgety. In my spare time I was always doing something musically or creating some sort of visual treats (and no matter what my old teachers said, they were definitely treats!). From here I have just been trying everything until I found something that I really wanted to do and really got me excited. That was world of Moving Image.

The idea of building something, animating and editing it to sound and music with the possibilities of it being shown all over the world with the powers of the internet! I love to push myself and try different things, whether it is programs or techniques, I am eager to learn and eager to help.  It may not sound very hands on but when explaining to people about how I build compositions and pieces in 3D… I go back to my box of Lego.

Whilst being in my final year of University I got in touch with the team here at The Neighbourhood and came on a 2 week placement while doing my Final Major. I think it was their feedback and experience that spurred me on to do as best I could in the course. Since then, I knew what I was doing was right for me and I knew where I wanted to be. It’s great being in the Neighbourhood family for my first job in the terrifying real world and I hope this is the start for great things.

Away from the world of animation I love trying something new, and I think that is the best way to develop. I am a scrabbling rock climber, a speed freak on a snowboard and I will never be too far from a guitar. Basically, I’m always living the dream!"

"From my first career choices at school I have chosen art and design as a way of expressing myself. Choosing fine art at collage exposed me to a lot of crazy people who would make complex stories about the most simple pieces of art. My tutor at college gave me the advice that you will never make any money until you die doing fine art. With this in mind I stepped into web design and flash animation. I enjoyed the way you could make simple interfaces intuitive with the slightest amounts of design and animation.

This level of design was good but I knew there was another dimension and that was the third. Studying at home (messing around) one evening in 3D studio max I realised that I wanted to learn about 3D and the possibilities it could bring to my work. Little did I realise that it would take over my life forever. I've been producing architectural visualisation for over 5 years. I enjoy the stories that that can be told and I'm always striving for that real world detail.

My main inspiration comes from the things around me. From the places I visit to the people around me."

"Head of Noise? come on you're not telling me that's one of those new fangled, new way of thinking titles that makes it sound bigger than it actually is? No? oh. Ok seeing it’s you

It’s a title that fits perfectly with my role here, I get to tell lots of people about who we are and the wonderful things we do. Looking after business development and brand marketing is integral to the role, so you may find me on twitter a lot more these days!

Before I open the door to our world I'll make sure you'll already know a great deal about us and you'll be really looking forward to meeting other members of the team.

Even though I don't get involved in the ‘creating’ bit my design background gives me the insight and knowledge needed to show where our value comes from for clients. To me great design is well crafted and connects on a very emotional level. It solves problems and enriches the world around us.

I feel very privileged to be part of the Neighbourhood team, a very talented and gifted bunch and I get to see the next big things we are working on before anyone else. It’s then down to me to make sure all the right people know about it!

I look forward to helping shape the Neighbourhood of tomorrow so we can achieve future success together. It's a very special place and feels very much like home."

"I have worked in marketing and PR for 13 years (!) now. Working in an eclectic selection of places from a photo agency, flogging photos to Transport for London, axing the Routemasters to a TV station in Amsterdam.  Now living in Manchester I work raising and shaping the profile of The Neighbourhood. 

I come into The Neighbourhood a few days a month to find out what the team is up to. This is always a pleasure as I get to see all the amazing worlds and meet the characters the team have created. Working at the Neighbourhood is always good news.

I spend the rest of my time looking after my daughters 3 year-old Eva and 18 month old Molly which is a riot of Cbeebies and Nickelodeon characters. So in and out of work I am operating in a surreal animated reality."

"Inspiration for me has always been about people, charismatic individuals who embody a way of looking at the world and a way of living - just by being who they are. I can chart the twists and turns of my long 'career' through a series of encounters that have each set me off in a new direction, from the literary critic who tutored me at uni and told me my final essay was "publishable", setting me off on a writing career, to the super-smart young internet entrepreneur somewhere in Latvia who I was recently introduced to virtually and hope to meet soon...

Right now though the people I'm inspired by most are my three teenage sons. Not only on account of fatherly pride, but because of the way they are kick-starting their young lives.

There's Frank, who used his thirteenth birthday money to buy components to build his own gaming-optimised PC. Two-and-a-half hours after school and it was done; it worked first time. Or Oscar; rocking the house to its core with his self-composed dubstep tracks, traversing London as a cycle courier to fund trips to Guatemala and Ghana. And Felix, doggedly proving Malcolm Gladwell's point about the 10,000 hours needed to master a craft by teaching himself electric guitar three hours a day for two years and counting.

Self-reliance, initiative, discipline, focus, craft, energy and vision; most adults I know could learn a thing or two from these guys. I certainly do - when they're not immersing the house in a cloud of Lynx and testosterone, necking all my beers or nicking my underpants."