Gareth Sleightholme

Gareth Sleightholme began his career as an archaeological illustrator producing historical reconstructions and finds drawings for an archaeology unit based in Beverley, Yorkshire.

Since 1997 he has worked in creative consultancy, illustration and concept visualisation in the heritage/leisure industries (inc Theme Park design) both on a freelance and full-time/in-house basis. Gareth worked on the design of a wide range of diverse projects across Europe, Scandinavia and the US, inc. The London and Hamburg Dungeons, The Norwich Castle Museum, SantaPark (a large themed visitor attraction in the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland), various large sea life aquariums; he has also been engaged in art direction and design for film and television as well as helping to develop and teach the new Masters Degree in Animation and Sound Design at Norwich. Following a short period of producing conceptual design work on a freelance basis, Gareth joined hpl europe ltd full time, taking on the role as Senior Creative, then Creative Director, in their design dept, a role which saw him produce concepts and design for corporate exhibition and events for amongst others, Orange, Virgin Atlantic and Blackberry over the next five and half years.

As of late 2008 he has again acted as Creative Consultant to the Visitor Attraction and Heritage Industry (including historical illustration work), whilst primarily lecturing at HSAD (Hull) on their Games Design & Animation BA Hons programmes.

He is currently looking at work in the field of Conceptual Design for the Games Industry; while pursuing his post MA research into the links between Deep Reading, Empathy and Creativity following completion of his Masters Degree (merit) in Design looking at The Visualisation of Educational Concepts within Art Schools.

He is currently developing an educational 3D open world game concept called Rabbit Heart with his colleague Paul Starkey, working on EU funded research relating to Applied Gaming, post Masters research looking at links between Deep Reading, Empathy & Creativity as well as developing his own writing and artwork towards a graphic novel (The Cthulhiad) which has been showcased at Thought Bubble Comic Con for the last two years.