Biography
Having been brought up in Tuscany, given its cultural significance as the main cradle of the Renaissance and almost surrounded by the works of its ancient masters such as Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raffaello Donatello and Brunelleschi, amongst many others, without counting the many spectacular landscapes which the region is famous for, I believe it has undoubtedly played a part in nurturing my keen interest in art and nature at the same time.
Happy childhood:
As a kid, I was fortunate enough to be living close to both the sea and the countryside and hold fond memories of spending whole afternoons exploring big wide open spaces with my friends, especially during the summer months. This is quite likely when my avid curiosity about the natural world and how everything works were sparked.
Having said that, I could conversely be absorbed in drawing for hours, forgetting about time altogether.
Studies:
My past studies in Geology at the University of Pisa with particular regard for
Palaeontology, especially dinosaurs, had been at first a way to continue my interest in the natural sciences within an academic setting, but years later have held me in good stead in my current line of work for anything creature-related, by helping me on the route to creating more believable body performances through a more correct anatomical and physiological perspective.
After my degree at the Birmingham Institute of Art & Design at the now BCU in Visual Communication, I went on to work as a compositor in Milan and later as a Graphic Designer and Art Director for a magazine for a number of years.
Shift in career:
However, the call from Animation and VFX was too strong, and I eventually did a Masters in Computer Animation and subsequently moved back to the UK in search of an opportunity. I have since covered many roles within the design field.
Breaking into the industry wasn’t easy, but through sheer luck and determination, my turning point came when I was accepted on Framestore’s Launchpad program in CFX.
I have since progressed and had the fortune of also working with may big-name studios such as: MPC, DNEG, Axis, Scanline, Jellyfish Pictures amongst others on a number of large scale productions whether for photorealistic VFX, feature animation, or videogame cinematics with experience spanning the whole range of dynamic simulations, including: Cloth, Hair/Fur and Muscle/Skin/Fat.
Skills
Roles
- Advanced
Technical Skills
- Advanced
- Advanced
Software
- Mastery
- Mastery
- Mastery
- Mastery
- Mastery
- Mastery
- Mastery
- Advanced
- Advanced
- Advanced
- Advanced
- Advanced
- Intermediate
- Intermediate
- Intermediate
- Intermediate
- Intermediate
- Intermediate
- Basic
- Basic
- Basic
- Basic
- Basic
- Basic
Languages
- Fluent/Native
- Fluent/Native
Other Skills
- Mastery
- Advanced
- Intermediate
- Basic
Work Experience
2026 – 2026
CFX Artist
Outpost VFX (London, UK)
2026 – 2026
CFX Artist (Freelance)
Blur Studio (Los Angeles, USA (remote))
Cloth and Hair simulation with Houdini Vellum for the "Secrets of Strixhaven | Magic: The Gathering" cinematic trailer.
2025 – 2025
CFX Artist
Untold Studios (London, UK)
Complex dynamic soft body creature simulations for the feature film "Remarkably Bright Creatures".
2024 – 2025
Intermediate - CFX Artist (Freelance)
Sunrise Animation Studios (Cape Town, S. Africa (remote))
Cloth and Hair/Fur dynamic simulation shot work, utilizing Houdini Vellum.
Latest project:
- "David" animated feature currently in production.
2023 – 2024
CFX Artist
Jellyfish Pictures (London, UK)
Creature, character and prop dynamic simulation shot work and creation of Hair/Cloth sim rigs for film and animation.
Latest projects:
- "The Twits" (Netflix),
- "Nautilus" (Amazon Prime Video - series)
2022 – 2022
CFX Artist
Scanline VFX (London, UK)
Creature/character/prop dynamic simulations (hair, cloth, muscle and skin) and creation of Hair/Cloth sim rigs for feature films.
Latest projects:
- "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom",
- "The Flash",
- "The Meg 2: The Trench"
2022 – 2022
CFX TD
Framestore (London, UK)
Creature/character dynamic simulations (muscles, skin, fat, fur and cloth) on the film "Beast" with Idris Elba.
2021 – 2021
CFX Artist
Axis (Bristol/Glasgow, Uk)
Creation of Cloth/Hair sim rigs, dynamic simulation shot work in Houdini Vellum.
Latest projects:
- "Diablo® II: resurrected" cinematics (Blizzard Entertainment),
- "Scrooge: A Christmas Carol",
- "Gigi & Nate",
- "Dead Island 2" videogame trailer,
- "Destiny 2 – The Witch Queen" videogame cinematic cut scenes.
2020 – 2021
3D Environment Modeller
TALOS TableTop Company (London, UK)
3D Sculpting in ZBrush of environments and props, as part of a Kickstarter project, bringing together a group of VFX industry veterans with the objective of providing movie-quality miniatures and terrains for tabletop games such as DnD, Cyberpunk, Warhammer as well as custom models.
2019 – 2020
Creature TD
DNEG (London, UK)
Creation of sim rigs and dynamic cloth/hair simulations in Houdini, shot finalling/sculpting for digi-doubles in blockbuster movies.
Latest projects:
- "Tenet" – directed by Christopher Nolan,
- "Fast & Furious 9".
2019 – 2019
CFX TD
Framestore (London, UK)
Fur, muscle, skin, cloth simulations and shot finalling on photorealistic creatures
and characters for feature films.
Latest projects:
- "Wonder Woman 1984" (DC Comics, Warner Bros.),
- "The King’s Man" (20th Century Studios, Marv Films, Marv Studios),
- "Lady and the Tramp" (Disney).
2019 – 2019
Tracking/Matchmove Artist
Framestore (London, UK)
Creation of motion files, including camera and/or the object, to match the original background plate photography for high end feature film projects;
Geometric reconstruction of key static objects in the scene enabling the live action to seamlessly interact with CG elements;
Reconstructing the placement of motion files (camera or object track) in the 3D set in order to quality control the accuracy of each track;
Rendering wireframes of a scene geometry to be rendered and composited over the original plate to help judge accuracy of each track.
Latest project:
- "His dark materials" – (HBO, BBC).
2019 – 2019
CFX TD
Framestore (London, UK)
Dynamic muscle, fat, skin, fur simulations, shot finalling and sculpting for
CG creatures in feature films.
Latest project:
- "Pokemon Detective Pikachu".
2018 – 2018
Tech Anim Artist
MPC (London, UK)
Dynamic skin/cloth (nCloth) simulations and shot finalling on photorealistic creatures for feature films.
Latest project:
- "Dumbo" – directed by Tim Burton (Walt Disney).
2017 – 2018
CFX TD
Framestore (London, UK)
Photorealistic dynamic simulations of cloth, muscles, skin and fur plus shot finalling on characters and creatures for major feature movies.
Latest projects:
- "Thor – Ragnarok" (Marvel Studios),
- "Mowgli - Legend of the jungle" (Warner Bros.),
- "Christopher Robin" (Walt Disney).
2016 – 2017
Retoucher
Taylor James (London, UK)
Retouching and image clean-up on advertising campaigns for Honda, Ford, FedEx, Nissan, Eprinex, Oilatum.
In charge of Taylor James’ extensive image library.
2015 – 2015
CGI Technical Director
Framestore Integrated Advertising (London, UK)
Creation of photo-real 3D imagery for global advertising campaigns for market leading companies such as Microsoft.
2006 – 2015
3D Artist, Graphic Designer and Motion Graphics Designer
Freelance (Worldwide)
Portfolio including clients such as: Krugg, Fontanafredda, Winetrade, NeoNevis, Stefano Chioccioli, MareDiVino, JRP.
2009 – 2013
Maya 3D Artist / Lead Graphic Designer
Little Bridge World / Manic Monkey Ltd. (London, UK)
Instrumental in enhancing the overall visual style of the multi award-winning Little Bridge World's educational software, adopted by more than 5 million children in over 40 countries across the globe.
Responsible for 3D asset creation such as: animations, 3D modelling and texturing of characters, props and environments to be implemented via Unity into applications and games for Pc/Mac, online and mobile social apps, iPad, iPhone, Android tablets and interactive whiteboards.Positive contribution throughout the iPhone game design process.
Managing several projects in partnership with Samsung, Intel and numerous public institutions and ministries of education throughout the world.
2008 – 2008
Graphic Designer
Sillabe Srl. (Livorno, Italy)
Project ownership from concept to completion in the design of books, exhibition catalogues, posters, fliers and other marketing collateral.
Corporate identity and advertising for major Italian museums and institutions, among others Palazzo Pitti, Stibbert Museum, Vatican Museums, C.N.R - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche.
Responsible for cooperation with external design agencies, photographers and other suppliers and partners.
Liaising with clients and assisting the Art Director on a multitude of projects.
2007 – 2007
Maya 3D Generalist
Idee e Soluzioni Srl. (Milan, Italy)
Modelling, texturing of assets and environments plus character animation on a contract project, delivering a fully CGI music promo on behalf of Universal Music in record time as part of a team of 3D artists.
2002 – 2006
Lead Graphic & Motion Designer
AZ Franchising magazine / JRP Srl. (Milan, Italy)
Supervision of the overall look of the journal and coordination of the art team.
Preparation of graphical layouts, illustrations and photo retouching.
Liaising with editorial staff and reporting directly to the editor in chief to ensure the smooth outcome of each month’s issue.
Responsible for the JRP brand identity.
Creation of ads on Italian national TV and corporate videos.
Designed exhibition stands for AZ Franchising.
2001 – 2002
AVID DS Operator / Motion Graphics Designer
Anfiteatro Entertainment Srl. (Milan, Italy)
Responsible for creation of video-graphics for various programs on Italian national television and promos for several mainstream music artists (Sony Music, Epic and Universal).
1999 – 1999
Adobe After Effects Technical Demonstrator
Quadrant Video Systems Plc (Birmingham, UK)
Demonstration and introductory course to Media production staff at the Birmingham International Convention Centre (venue for the 1998 G8 summit)
Education
2019 – 2019
Internal course
Framestore - London, UK
ZBrush for Beginners
2019 – 2019
Masterclass
Framestore - London, UK
Stuart Sumida: Dinosaur anatomy
2019 – 2019
Introductory masterclass
Escape Studios / Framestore - London, UK
Unreal
2019 – 2019
Sculpting Course with Livia Turco
Framestore - London, UK
Clay figure sculpting
2018 – 2018
Workshop
Framestore - London, UK
Stuart Sumida: The biological rules that drive animated characters
2017 – 2017
Intensive short course
Escape Studios, as part of Framestore's Launchpad Pro scheme
Maya nCloth/nHair dynamic simulation
2010 – 2010
Master class
PIXAR/Escape Studios - London, UK
Animation
2006 – 2007
Masters
Upgrade ATC - Milan, Italy
Maya Character Rigging & Animation
2005 – 2005
Certification
Upgrade ATC - Milan, Italy
Autodesk Maya - Transition level
2005 – 2005
Certification
Upgrade ATC - Milan, Italy
Autodesk Maya - Introduction level Certification
1996 – 1999
BA (Honours)
Birmingham City University - Birmingham, UK
Visual Communication - specialisation: Time-Based Media (Video & Animation)
1995 – 1996
BTEC Foundation Diploma
Birmingham City University - Birmingham, UK
Art & Design