Stephen Thornhill

I have over 15 years of experience in the Entertainment Industry and hold a Master of Arts degree in Animation & Digital Media from Bournemouth University in the UK.

My career began at Pinewood Studios UK, where I worked on my first fully CG-animated TV series. I then joined some of the UK's leading visual effects studios before relocating to beautiful Vancouver, BC, where I continued this approach, working with top studios in the industry on VFX and animated features. 

Passionate about artistic visual storytelling, I enjoy working on personal projects that blend my diverse experience with a strong traditional foundation. I'm always excited to connect and discuss new opportunities—feel free to reach out!

Senior Texture & Look Development Artist
With over 15 years of experience in the Entertainment Industry, I specialize in texturing, surfacing, and look development for high-profile film and television productions. I have collaborated with top-tier studios, including Bardel Entertainment, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Framestore, Cinesite, Digital Domain, Industrial Light & Magic, and Zoic Studios, contributing to major projects such as Spider-Man, Aladdin, Aquaman, Ghostbusters, Shazam 2, and Rebel Moon.

Key Skills & Expertise:

• Advanced Texturing & Surfacing: Expertise in high-quality asset creation for VFX and animation.
• Strong Artistic Foundation: Keen eye for design, composition, color, and lighting.
• Software Proficiency: Skilled in Mari, Substance Painter, Substance Designer, Maya, Photoshop, ZBrush, Katana, Nuke, Arnold, Renderman, and more.
• Cross-Discipline Collaboration: Experienced in taking ownership of tasks, providing guidance to peers, and contributing to a positive, productive team environment. across diverse pipelines.
• Technical Acumen: Proficient in polygonal modeling, UV layout, shading, and rendering on both Windows and Linux environments.

I am passionate about artistic visual storytelling and thrive in both collaborative team settings and independent roles. Always open to new opportunities—feel free to connect!

Master of Arts in Digital Media – Computer Animation
Bournemouth University, National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA)

Completed a rigorous, industry-focused program specializing in computer animation, digital media, and visual effects. Developed a strong foundation in 3D modeling, texturing, rigging, lighting, rendering, and compositing, alongside traditional artistic principles such as design, composition, and storytelling.

Key areas of study included:

• Computer Animation Techniques – Focused on character and environment creation, procedural animation, and industry-standard workflows.
• Texturing & Surfacing – Specialized training in photorealistic and stylized texture painting, 3D modelling, UV mapping, and shading.
• Rendering & Compositing – Practical experience with rendering engine (Renderman) and post-production techniques in Nuke and After Effects.
• Team-Based Production Pipelines – Worked on collaborative projects simulating real-world studio environments.

This program provided both technical expertise and artistic development, equipping me with the skills to thrive in high-end animation and visual effects production.