We’re looking for an experienced Lead Artist with a broad/generalist background to join a new game studio founded by industry veterans. This is a rare opportunity to help shape a new team from the ground up in a collaborative, creatively driven environment.

Our studio was founded on the belief that the corporate games industry has lost sight of what matters: making fun games that put the player first. We’re building a team of passionate developers and getting back to what makes game development exciting.

The Role

As Lead Artist, you’ll play a pivotal role in defining and producing world-class artwork for our AA 3rd person action game in UE5. You’ll work with the art director to establish the art vision and pipeline, help build and mentor a talented team of artists. You’ll work closely with the directors, game designers, and programmers and must be an excellent communication.

Key Responsibilities

· Create a wide range of art assets in Unreal Engine 5

· Develop and maintain the art pipeline, including technical needs, workflows and tools

· Collaborate with the Art Director on delivering the art vision, producing benchmarks and best practices

· Manage and build a multidisciplinary art team

· Work with production to create realistic art scope and schedules

· Foster strong communication between art, design, and code teams

· Mentor and guide artists; review and provide feedback on their work

· Help shape the culture and identity of a new and growing studio

Required Skills & Experience

· Proven experience creating AA or AAA-level environment art for games

· At least 5 years of experience in game development, including at least 1 title using Unreal Engine 5

· Experience leading teams or projects, including team-building and pipeline setup

· Broad understanding of Characters, Environments, Props, Mechanical design. You don’t need to be an expert but you need to know enough to be able to tell when someone’s work is good enough and help them keep their work on visual target.

· Excellent time management skills; ability to prioritize, multitask, and meet deadlines

· Strong communication and collaboration skills; a team-first mindset

· A portfolio that demonstrates industry-standard art

Bonus Skills

· Specialist skills in character, vehicles, or VFX creation in Unreal Engine

· Traditional concept art skills

· Basic animation knowledge

Education

· Professional art training is desirable but not essential

· What matters most is a strong portfolio and practical experience

What We're Looking For

We’re after more than just technical skill, we’re building a team of passionate, grounded, and collaborative developers. You should bring energy, creativity, and a willingness to mentor others. We value confidence without arrogance, and we’re serious about creating a healthy work-life balance for everyone.

Join us in creating something special from the ground up.

While we offer Hybrid working, the role is based in Newcastle/Gateshead and the candidate needs to be able to work 3 days a week in the studio with the rest of the team.