Neil Lawson. Photo © Sarah FitzGerald
If you want a short summary or a longer read I got you.
Short and sweet
- cheeseandegg is Neil Lawson
- Animator, Illustrator, Designer
- Available for freelance work and commissions
- Based in London, UK, working remotely
- Get in touch via email: cheeseandegg@pm.me
What's the story?
Everything in my life has led me to where I am today; all the mistakes, all the grind, all the searching, all the leaps into the unknown, all the everything. In retrospect, it all fits together perfectly, a masterful patchwork of experiences and lessons learnt. It gives me the confidence to allow creativity to flow.
Myriad stories can be told through different media; however, if there's no story, then the work often becomes flat and lifeless. Storytelling is the beating heart of creative work. I am a visual storyteller, utilising the mediums of animation and illustration. I am here to help you share your story. Get in touch and let's get things going.
Animation
I write scripts, create storyboards, edit video, shoot photos, illustrate, design, and animate using 2D and 3D software, as well as design sound. I do all of these things so I can craft exceptional video content.
Illustration
I work with both traditional and digital tools to create original illustrations. I enjoy generating concepts and sketching ideas. Nailing a concept that supplements and supports a piece of writing or evokes a particular mood is the definition of satisfaction. Creating final artwork that does justice to a great idea is then a true delight.
Career path
Once upon a time, I worked on a soap opera. I started as a runner and rose to the position of Series Script Editor. I gained a deep understanding of story and character, and a love of good writing. I'm very comfortable working with scripts and understand their importance in telling compelling stories.
I worked as a Project Manager for a digital agency that specialised in creating educational content, serving many clients in the charity and public Sectors. I built large websites, bespoke e-learning content, custom platforms and games, managing teams of designers, illustrators, animators, and developers. Planning and communication are key skills that I honed whilst there, and I became intimately acquainted with all aspects of digital production, including writing and directing green-screen shoots.
Macmillan Education headhunted me to build a new digital platform and authoring tool for teaching English to adult learners. As a Senior Creative Producer, I worked with the Editors and Content Team to understand their requirements and define how to structure and deliver their pedagogy through an engaging, interactive, online experience. I completed a lot of user experience work and prototyping different interactions to develop working prototypes with a small team of front-end developers. Alongside wireframing and user testing, I directed green screen video shoots, managed location shoots, created animated videos, and commissioned other video and design elements.
In 2015, a bike accident landed me in the hospital and presented me with the opportunity to assess what was important to me. I came out with my first-ever five-year plan. It was time to follow my heart and earn money as an animator and illustrator, to work at home, and spend more time with my young family. I achieved these goals and more thanks to my obsessive nature and passion. When you love what you do, ten thousand hours pass in a flash. Having a degree of mastery allows me to realise things from my imagination in the way I imagine them; it is a superpower that I happily share to help people tell their own unique stories.
cheeseandegg?
It's a silly name, but sometimes you have to remind yourself not to take yourself too seriously. Being creative is fun, and I love having fun.