John William Crossland
John William Crossland
Principal and Freelance Character Artist
Shire, Finland

About

Principal & Freelance Character Artist | 15+ Years in AAA Game Development

Specializing in creating and directing character art pipelines for AAA titles, with experience leading teams and collaborating across multiple studios. I’ve contributed to high-profile projects like Watchdogs Legion and Alan Wake II, where I guide character artists in crafting memorable characters

Available for Freelance & Contract engagements available upon request.

Skills
- Character & Creature concept
- Facial & Character Modelling
- Team management
- Outsource Management

Skills

Concept ArtCharacter ModelingCreature ModelingDigital SculptingLightingCreature Design

Software proficiency

Blender
Blender
Maya
Maya
Mudbox
Mudbox
3ds Max
3ds Max
Photoshop
Photoshop
Substance 3D Painter
Substance 3D Painter
Substance 3D Designer
Substance 3D Designer
Marmoset Toolbag
Marmoset Toolbag
ZBrush
ZBrush

Productions

    • Video Game
      Alan Wake 2 - The Lake House DLC
    • Year
      2025
    • Role
      Lead Character Artist
    • Company
      Remedy Entertainment PLC
    • Video Game
      Alan Wake 2 - Night Springs DLC
    • Year
      2024
    • Role
      Lead Character Artist
    • Company
      Remedy Entertainment PLC
    • Video Game
      Alan Wake 2
    • Year
      2023
    • Role
      Lead Character Artist
    • Company
      Remedy Entertainment PLC
    • Video Game
      Watchdogs Legion
    • Year
      2020
    • Role
      Lead Character Artist
    • Company
      Ubisoft Toronto
    • Video Game
      Quantum Break
    • Year
      2016
    • Role
      Senior Character Artist
    • Company
      Remedy Entertainment
    • Video Game
      Zoo Tycoon 3
    • Year
      2014
    • Role
      Character Artist
    • Company
      Frontier Developments
    • Video Game
      Little Big Planet 3 - Pre Production
    • Year
      2014
    • Role
      Character Artist and Prop Artist
    • Company
      Sumo Digital - Media Molecule
    • Video Game
      Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing Transformed
    • Year
      2012
    • Role
      Character Artist
    • Company
      Sumo Digital
    • Video Game
      Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing
    • Year
      2010
    • Role
      Character Artist and Prop Artist
    • Company
      Sumo Digital

Experience

  • Lead/Principal Character Artist at Remedy Entertainment PLC
    Helsinki, Finland
    August 2020 - Present

    Currently working as acting lead and principal character artist.

  • Lead Character Artist at Ubisoft
    Toronto, Canada
    April 2017 - July 2020

    As lead character artist at Ubisoft Toronto my duties include:

    - managing and leading character artists; working on art quality, daily feedback and career progression.

    - creating the character art pipeline and workflow

    - working with multiple Art Director across multiple disciplines.

    - managing and collaborating with multiple outsource partners and external studios.

    - working with the graphics and engine department to push quality.

    My role extends to different areas inside the studio globally includes :

    - working with HR to build character teams for the studio

    - I built the photogrammetry pipeline with various departments for head scanning and outfit/cloth workflow.

  • Senior Character Artist at Remedy Entertainment
    Espoo, Finland
    March 2014 - May 2017

    I joined remedy in 2014 as a contract Character Artist on Quantum Break, I worked on multiple characters throughout the project and soon after joining, joined the team as a permanent Senior Character Art.

    After Quantum Break I then lead the Crossfire project, I did concept art, character modelling and management for the teams internal and external.

    - Concept and character design

    - Character modelling and asset creation

    - Character specific pipeline r&d

    - Outsource management

  • Character Artist at Frontier Developments
    Cambridge, United Kingdom
    July 2013 - March 2014

    - Asset production for Games Characters

    - High & low poly asset creation

    - Shader setup and authoring

  • Character Artist & Prop Artist at Sumo Digital
    Sheffield, United Kingdom
    September 2007 - July 2013

    At Sumo Digital I initially worked as a 2d Graphics Artist working on UI designs and logo content.

    Later I became a part of the modelling and worked as a character artist working on character assets, shaders and concept work. I also helped out on the 3d frontend and environment work over many different projects.

    - Vehicle and character game assets

    - Game engine Technical Direction

    - Team management

    - Graphic Design for UI and UX

    - Outsource Management

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