Welsh Designer/Maker

Career:
I graduated with a BA Hons 3D Design specialising in Plastics. Everyone else was making furniture, but I was working on costumes and bodices. I’m a non-conformist - I made a purple fibre-glass bodice, and a bra out of 80 latex baby teats. This isn’t something that the majority of people do, and that difference made me a bit special on the course.

I started as a freelance designer with a commercial prop company in Cardiff working on projects for clients like Volvo, PlayStation and S4C, including making the body work for the Bafta award winning Tecwyn the Tractor! I worked on the launch of new Streetfighter characters, making plastic models for three of the figures.

Gladiator:
I worked on the Oscar-winning film 'Gladiator', as part of a team creating authentic romanesque props used in the film - lions' heads, scrolls, tureens, armoury and so on. Russell Crowe was unknown, just ‘that guy from Neighbours’. We used to ask each other who the stars were and look out for them - Billy Zane, Johnny Depp, and Alicia Silverstone. I got lost one day, and Kenneth Branagh showed me the way. He was really busy, but absolutely charming, taking time to show me, even though he had so much on.

The job:
As a freelance, I’m constantly networking and sending out updated CVs. My work varies. Prop work can be very physical, depending what you’re making. Recently I've been making giant plastic decorations for Legoland, carving polystyrene, mould making, fibreglassing, sanding.

Highlight:
Being invited to the cast and crew screening of 'Gladiator' in London. The film was fantastic and it was amazing to see MY work up on the big silver screen. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming a wonderful dream. I had made these things and spent so much time and effort on them. They are dead when you make them, but the film brought them to life for me.

Oh, and I loved the film because Russell Crowe was so sexy!

Low:
I don't think I have a worst experience, because you learn something from every experience, be it good or bad.

Tips from the top:
Really try and get work experience - it shows you’re prepared to take the initiative and that you’re willing to work. I worked as an extra on the film 'Twin Town', during my last year in university and also did some additional work as an extra for S4C. It gives you an insight into what a job is really like, rather than what you think it’ll be like.