We caught up with 2024 BA (Hons) Illustration graduate William Olney, who specialises in poly sculpting and modelling within Blender and Nomad Sculpt as well as 2D conception, scale digital modelling, substance painter texturing, and much more within programs such as Unreal Engine.
Most recently, Will’s just finished a commission for a project made for The Sloane Lab at The British Museum. We find out about life post-graduation, post-AUB, and how it is being out in the real world.
Could you tell us a bit more about the commission for the Sloane Lab at The British Museum?
The brief was to show the capability of digital mediums in the display, organisation, and accessibility of artefacts that allow for anyone to use and explore the resources through an immersive medium. And it was decided that I had the expertise needed within digital modelling, asset creation and texturing, as well as “experience” creation to bring a proof of concept piece to reality.
This was my first public-facing project within Unreal Engine, which was a very big jump with a heavy learning curve. But it provided me a fantastic starting point for understanding the software that ended up having a massive impact on how I went about my final university project during my final year on the course, as the two projects ran in tandem.
This experience has again come in handy as I continue my education into a Master's with Escape Studios in character and creature creation. More than anything, it was super interesting for me to see how my skills could be used for a vastly different outcome and clientele as opposed to my usual work.
You graduated with BA (Hons) Illustration from AUB in 2024. How did you come to be on the course? Did you always know you wanted to do illustration?
Before I started the Illustration course, I completed the Foundation Diploma at AUB, which allowed me the time to consider what direction I wanted my work to take and how I wanted to develop my skills. I think this was the most important point in my time studying at AUB; it was the freedom in mediums that the Illustration course allowed that drew me to perusing the course post-foundation.
It sounds like you’ve very much into the 3D side of things. Is that something you discovered a love for at AUB?
Yes, absolutely – exploring 3D during the Foundation and focusing the final project on a very simple VR experience gave me the drive to actually consider it as a future career. It was just a process of figuring out how I was going to make it work. That was the fantastic thing about the Illustration course – it gave me the time and space to personally explore my medium starting from the very basics and using all the digital resources and software tutorials I had to hand to better my skills and knowledge in my chosen subject.
You were part of the team responsible for Dorset’s largest public mural. How was it to be part of something so huge – literally and metaphorically?
Terrifying! As someone with a fear of heights it was absolutely a test of nerve!
Before focusing on 3D work, my original plan was to become a mural artist, so to have this passion and interest in the medium so quickly realised within my time at university was amazing.
I was very lucky to have completed another smaller mural outside of the course for the Creekmoor Youth Centre through networking with the third years while I was in foundation. This meant I had previous experience, interest, and excitement to build upon going into this mural, which was far bigger and far more public!
Being a collaborative piece made for such an enjoyable time on the project in both the planning and painting stages. As someone who grew up in Salisbury, I often have old friends reach out to me saying they’ve driven past and loved the team’s amazing work.
The process of designing and creating Dorset’s largest mural was something I was so grateful to have had the opportunity to do, and something that I think highlights what makes AUB a good university.
The opportunities that arise provide invaluable experience for budding creatives within Dorset’s community, especially when, outside university, it can be far harder to find projects like these. Giving students the opportunity to start building up professional portfolios and CVs so early on makes a massive difference when leaving university and entering the working world.
Do you have any advice for budding illustrators starting out in the industry or thinking about studying it at university?
I've had a lot of conversations with my peers about this and we've all agreed on two main things: community changes everything when moving away, and it's okay if it takes time to get into your desired industry.
For a lot of us, it hasn't happened instantly. Life can get difficult once you leave university with mounting pressure to instantly succeed and get your life started as soon as possible, but having your artistic community, as well as your close friends, around to help and support you has been life-changing.
While it’s slightly cheesy; keep going when it gets hard, keep your friends close, and don’t forget to enjoy life outside of jobs and the pressure of careers. If you love what you do and you keep doing it, the projects and the dream job will come eventually, but it’s going to take time to get there and you can’t rush that. Give 100% every day, be patient with yourself, and enjoy creating.
