Naughty Nathan Junk from the mind of a Tech Artist…

I’m Naughty Nathan. I’m a UK based Technical Artist working for Firesprite who are an independant Games Developer in Liverpool. I (and most of Firesprite) use to work for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) – Liverpool Studio.

I’m a traditional artist and 3D modeler by trade but, because I know a bit about how computers and things work and I love problem solving and programming, a lot of my role as a Technical Artist involves very little actual artwork and a lot of MEL scripting and art-related troubleshooting. When an artist has a problem, needs a script writing or breaks something I’m there to help. So when it comes to Maya, MEL or python I pretty much know what I’m talking about most of the time.

I’ve worked for several computer companies over the last 20 years, Binary Design, Virtek, GSi, Warthog, Genepool, Traveller’s Tales and Sony (SCEE). I’ve worked in full or in part on the following published software titles:

3D-Ware (PC), F16-Agressor (PC), Wings of Destiny (PC), Starlancer (Dreamcast), Star Trek Invasion (PS-One), X-Men Wolverine’s Revenge (PS2), Narnia (PS2), F1 (PS2/PS3/PSP), Wipeout Pure (PSP), Wipeout Pulse (PSP), Wipeout HD (PS3), Wipeout Fury (PS3), Wipeout 2048 (PS-Vita), Run Sackboy Run (iPhone/Android/PS-Vita) and the PS4 Playroom (PS4).

I also worked as a CG effects animator for the legendary Cosgrove Hall on the cITV TV show Engie Benjy.

I am currently working on VR applications for Oculus and Morpheus (PC/PS4).

I live in Manchester with my partner Alison and my two boys Matthew & Jacob, there’s probably some pictures of them somewhere in this blog if you’re really interested.

My main hobbies are LEGO and music. I have a huge LEGO collection and love collecting it and building with it whenever I can (which is not very often). I play the bass guitar (which is also not very often) and have been in a few different bands throughout the years. My current band is Big Time Charlie Potatoes but to be honest we’ve all but officially disbanded due mainly to lazyness… 🙁 Of course I love listening to music too.

Musicians I really love and could listen to 24-7 on permanent repeat:

Belle & Sebastian, the Boss – Bruce Springsteen, Loudon Wainwright III, Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd, REM, Richard Thompson, Roy Harper, Rush, Talk Talk, The Beatles, The Shins, The Smiths, William J. Cooke.

Some other artists I really love:

Aimee Mann, Crash Test Dummies, Eels, Grandaddy, Joe Satriani, Joni Mitchell, Midlake, Nick Harper, Kate Bush, Radiohead, Talking Heads, Simon & Garfunkel, The Cure.

Of course I love tons of other artists as well, from Adam Masterson to Zero 7, but there are just too many to mention in full… the ones listed are simply those who you’ve probably have heard of and that I never get tired of listening to again and again and again…

Other stuff I like:

LEGO, Doom 2, L4D, Counter-Strike, Warwick Thumb Basses, good flash games, LOST, Nintendo DS, pretty girls, kissing, pretty girls kissing, hard-core pornography, marzipan.

Things I hate:

Reality TV, American “humour”, British Sitcoms, People, Smoking, Children, TV, Reality.