I am an Architectural Illustrator and Digital (3D) Reconstruction Artist based near Edinburgh in Scotland. I work on heritage projects right across the country, from Caithness to Cornwall, and a few places further afield. I began my career as a graphics artist in the early 1990s, and in the following decade, I applied my expertise in digital 3D techniques to heritage visualisation, earning a reputation for delivering high-profile, academically respected work.

Methods and technologies

My digital reconstructions are evidence-based and research-led. I develop these through close collaboration with architectural historians, cultural advisors, and archaeologists. I carefully analyse information from measured survey drawings, Geospatial (laser survey) data, GIS, landscape (height and contour) data, archaeological reports, historical building records, and historical images and engravings. Many of the heritage sites I reconstruct are complex, fragmented structures that pose different challenges for visual interpretation. The process typically requires several months of effort, dedication, and careful planning, but the hard work is always rewarded with an image that can withstand academic scrutiny and better inform audiences.

Digital 3D models are the cornerstone of my visual reconstructions. The models provide unlimited flexibility for showing a building's chronological development, producing intricate cutaway visuals, different perspectives, animations, and immersive Virtual and Augmented Reality experiences. Each model is tailored and adaptable, ensuring it meets the unique needs of every project. My Portfolio contains many of my past projects and commissions.

I create all my 3D models using the open source 3D software Blender 3D. I have supported its ongoing development through the Blender Development Fund for over twenty years. I use different add-on tools or plugins to streamline workflows and optimise my model geometry in Blender. I mix image-based and procedural texturing techniques to add extra realism to my models, using Substance 3D Painter and Photoshop. Most of my finished images are rendered in either Blender's Cycles or EEVEE render engines, with post-rendering treatment and digital painting done in Photoshop or, sometimes, the Procreate app on the iPad, which I like for its portability.

A range of other software supports my work, including QGIS (for handling some survey data), Adobe Illustrator, and Affinity (for vector illustration). I sometimes also use Unreal Engine, although I prefer to focus on modelling and illustration, and usually collaborate with other artists on bigger projects with very large environments.

A brief guide to commissioning my work

Download this short guide to commissioning my services (PDF, 1MB). It includes some frequently asked questions and lists some of the information and resources I usually need to be able to estimate costs and timescales. Contact me by Email.

AI technology

While AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology supports some aspects of my production workflows assistively, I am committed to producing original work and prefer NOT to use generative AI to create my reconstructions for personal, practical, and ethical reasons. Outsourcing my creative and critical thinking to a machine diminishes the rewards and enjoyment I experience as a professional artist. I much prefer the flexibility of working with 3D models, which offer me greater control and adaptability and are better suited to the technical demands of my work. As AI technology evolves and the pressure to adopt AI workflows to improve efficiency increases, I continually re-evaluate its role in my work.

News & updates

In addition to this website, I usually share news of my recent work and projects on LinkedIn and Bluesky.