― Degree Pages ―
Our History
CDW Studios School of Visual Effects and Entertainment Design has been running since 2011 and provides artists Australia wide with the most up to date and relevant education available to kickstart their career.
In 2016 we partnered with Flinders University to co-deliver the Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Effects and Entertainment Design), a degree that combines the benefits of a university education with the practical, hands-on experience of working in industry.
All CDW Studios instructors are industry professionals who have worked for a range of international companies such as Disney, Blizzard Entertainment, Rising Sun Pictures, WETA, Wizards of the Coast and Lego among many others.
Our goal is to provide an intense learning experience combined with a friendly and encouraging atmosphere that caters to all skill levels. Our students learn in a realistic studio setting, with all classes delivered in a state of the art multimedia facility. In each class our instructors provide a live demonstration of the week’s task before offering individual advice and feedback to all students. Students not only receive individual art critique each week, but are also able to view their instructors workflow and techniques.
From 3D modeling to 2D character design, CDW Studios is the right place for anyone wishing to pursue a career in the visual effects and entertainment design industry.
Our Team
These are some of the key members of the team at CDW Studios. They work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the Degree and The Studio are a success.
Simon Scales
Simon is the founder and Director of CDW Studios. He has been working in the industry for over 15 years as an illustrator, environment designer, matte painter & concept artist. Clients include THQ, EA Games, LEGO, Mighty Kingdom, Animal Logic, Warner Bros and TT Games. His focus is now on further developing a world class education facility in Australia.
James Marshall
Zoe Doherty-Dawson
Zoe has worked in the industry for nearly two decades, bringing her wealth of experience in Marketing & Training to CDW Studios.
Phone: 0424 430 439
Email: zoe@cdwstudios.com
Jasmine Rossetto
Phone: 0406 635 897
Email: info@cdwstudios.com
Bryan Lee
Bryan has a background in industrial design and has been in industry creating designs for vehicles, mechs and tech. He has spent over 10 years in teaching, sharing his knowledge and expertise.
Now at CDW, he aims to create a fun but pragmatic environment to help facilitate students’ growth towards their goals.
Phone: 0413 963 184
Email: bryan.lee@cdwstudios.com
Tim McEwen
Tim is an award-winning cartoonist and has produced storyboards and concept art for feature films. With over 15 years of teaching experience and a nurturing approach to students, he is excited to bring his skills to the Sydney CDW Studio. In his spare time Tim continues to work on his award-winning comic series, Greener Pastures.
Phone: 0413 961 429
Email: tim.mcewen@cdwstudios.com
Flinders University Staff
CDW Studios co-delivers the Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Effects and Entertainment Design) with Flinders University. These are some of the members of the Flinders that help to make the degree a reality.
Katie Cavanagh
In addition to being a lecturer and course coordinator for the BCA (Digital Media) at Flinders, Katie is instrumental in the partnership between CDW Studios & Flinders University, helping to shape the curriculum and ensuring the degree remains a success.
Jason Bevan
Topic Lecturer and Coordinator for Visual Effects, Post Production, Animation, 3D Modelling. Jason’s technical expertise is in editing, compositing, and 3D animation software, although has a working knowledge of all areas of Animation, Visual Effects and Film Production.
Jason co-runs “The Void” at Flinders, ensuring all students in the VFX stream have access to world class expertise and equipment.
Email: jason.bevan@flinders.edu.au
Shane Bevin
Co-founder of Adelaide animation studio Monkeystack, Shane has experience in animation project management, render wrangling, 3D production, virtual reality production and software management.
Shane has been a lecturer for many years & we are lucky to have his expertise in co-delivering the BCA-VEED.
Email: shane.bevin@flinders.edu.au
CDW Instructors
Our school wouldn’t be possible without the skills, expertise and passion that our instructors share.
Storyboard artist, character designer and concept artist based in Adelaide, Australia. Peter has worked across the world for companies including Disney Toon Studios, Cartoon Network, Pandemic, Defiant and Blue Tongue Entertainment. He's most proud of his work on original platform video game Deblob 2.
Storyboard artist, character designer and concept artist based in Adelaide, Australia. Peter has worked across the world for companies including Disney Toon Studios, Cartoon Network, Pandemic, Defiant and Blue Tongue Entertainment. He's most proud of his work on original platform video game Deblob 2.
Simon is the founder and Director of CDW Studios. He has been working in the industry for over 15 years as an illustrator, environment designer, matte painter and concept artist. Clients include THQ, EA Games, LEGO, Mighty Kingdom, Animal Logic, Warner Bros and TT Games. His focus is now about creating a world-class education facility in Adelaide, Australia.
Simon is the founder and Director of CDW Studios. He has been working in the industry for over 15 years as an illustrator, environment designer, matte painter and concept artist. Clients include THQ, EA Games, LEGO, Mighty Kingdom, Animal Logic, Warner Bros and TT Games. His focus is now about creating a world-class education facility in Adelaide, Australia.
Bio Needed
Concept artist, illustrator and teacher, Bryan graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and has worked for THQ, Amaze Entertainment, Otis College of Art and Design, Concept Design Academy and Pic1 Studio, among others.
Cody is a Concept Artist specialising in environment design for video games based in Adelaide, Australia. Previous clients include, Lionsgate, Ready At Dawn, Facebook (Meta), Adglobe Montreal and Tripwire Interactive.
He has worked on various unannounced titles but most recently shipping Lone Echo 2.
Cody is a Concept Artist specialising in environment design for video games based in Adelaide, Australia. Previous clients include, Lionsgate, Ready At Dawn, Facebook (Meta), Adglobe Montreal and Tripwire Interactive.
He has worked on various unannounced titles but most recently shipping Lone Echo 2.
Adelaide based concept designer and illustrator. Currently Art Director at CDW Animation. Previous clients and employers include Monkeystack, Bosskey, Technicolour, Wizards of the Coast, 20th Century Fox and Legendary and Ridley Scott Associates. Specialises in pre-production pitch design, world building and environment design.
Ned is an Adelaide based concept designer and illustrator who has worked in the entertainment industry for more than 7 years. He specialises in pre-production pitch design, world building and environment design. His clients include Bosskey, Technicolour, Wizards of the Coast, 20th Century Fox and Legendary and Ridley Scott Associates. Throughout his classes Ned focuses on the fundamentals of idea development for film, games and animation and efficient visual storytelling as well as the core concepts of draftsmanship and design.
Tim is a freelance concept designer, illustrator and author based in Australia, specializing in character design and story development. He has worked in the French comic book market as well as animation and video games. His client list includes companies such as Editions Delcourt, Gunfire Games, Animal Logic, Ankama, Blur studios, Blizzard Entertainment, and Wizards of the Coast.
Tim is a freelance concept designer, illustrator and author based in Australia, specializing in character design and story development. He has worked in the French comic book market as well as animation and video games. His client list includes companies such as Editions Delcourt, Gunfire Games, Animal Logic, Ankama, Blur studios, Blizzard Entertainment, and Wizards of the Coast.
Tim is a freelance concept designer, illustrator and author based in Australia, specializing in character design and story development. He has worked in the French comic book market as well as animation and video games. His client list includes companies such as Editions Delcourt, Gunfire Games, Animal Logic, Ankama, Blur studios, Blizzard Entertainment, and Wizards of the Coast.
CDW Studios values having Tim as a teacher and mentor to our students, sharing his unique wealth of knowledge, helping to develop design skills and a strong work ethic. Tim’s best advice when asked on how to improve is to simply ‘draw more’.
D. M. Cornish is an award winning fantasy author and illustrator of the Monster Blood Tattoo book series.
David has also worked as an illustrator on numerous children's books and within the advertising industry for the past 20 years. David teaches our instructed figure drawing workshop and also teaches, Character Design, Illustration and Bootcamp workshops.
D. M. Cornish is the award winning fantasy author and illustrator of the four volume Monster Blood Tattoo book series.
David has also worked as an illustrator on numerous children's books and within the advertising industry for the past 20 years. David teaches our instructed figure drawing workshop and also teaches, Character Design, Illustration and Bootcamp workshops.
Yo Alex, We need some blurb here!
Alex Colvin is a Senior Artist with 14 years industry experience in television, video games and collectables. Alex specializes in character art and has worked with companies like Team Bondi, the PRA, Flying Bark, Mighty Kingdom and Team Cherry. Throughout the years Alex has led many teams as both lead 3D artist and Lead Artist. Alex brings his wealth of experience to our students, making sure they have the know-how, skills and direction required to meet the needs of the Entertainment Industry.
3D modeller and character artist based in Adelaide, Australia, working at Rising Sun Pictures. Previous work on productions including: Logan, Thor Ragnarok, Ford v Ferrari, Spider-Man: Far From Home, The Boys, Mortal Kombat, and Captain Marvel. Previous employers include Monkey Stack, Iloura, and WeMadeAThingStudios.
3D modeller and character artist based in Adelaide, Australia, working at Rising Sun Pictures. Previous work on productions including: Logan, Thor Ragnarok, Ford v Ferrari, Spider-Man: Far From Home, The Boys, Mortal Kombat, and Captain Marvel. Previous employers include Monkey Stack, Iloura, and WeMadeAThingStudios.
Steve is a Senior VFX Artist and is head of VFX at Resin: Animation and Visual Effects Studio. Resin has worked with some major clients such as Disney, Braun, Mitsubishi Motors, Jacob's Creek, Michelin, Bridgestone and Foxtel. Steve's favourite work came from being involved in VFX on Red Dog or Hunters. Steve's advice for aspiring artists is to 'Learn to problem solve'.
Steve is a Senior VFX Artist and is head of VFX at Resin: Animation and Visual Effects Studio. Resin has worked with some major clients such as Disney, Braun, Mitsubishi Motors, Jacob's Creek, Michelin, Bridgestone and Foxtel. Steve's favourite work came from being involved in VFX on Red Dog or Hunters. Steve has studied for many years undertaking a Cert 4 in Multimedia, Diploma of Screen (CGI/Visual effects), Adv Diploma of Screen and Bachelor of Creative Arts (Majoring in screen studies). He has beat the odds to teach himself how to use Nuke.
Steve's advice for aspiring artists is to 'Learn to problem solve'. "We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them." Albert Einstein.
3D modeller with a specialty in character modelling and face sculpting, currently Senior Modeller at CDW Animation. Previous clients include Chocolate Liberation Front, Flying Bark Productions, Mighty Nice and Hahn Entertainment.
3D modeller with a specialty in character modelling and face sculpting, currently Senior Modeller at CDW Animation. Previous clients include Chocolate Liberation Front, Flying Bark Productions, Mighty Nice and Hahn Entertainment. He has worked on projects including The New Adventures of Figaro Pho, BotterSnikes and Gumbles, Blinky Bill and Dota 2.
3D modeller with a specialty in character modelling and face sculpting, currently Senior Modeller at CDW Animation. Previous clients include Chocolate Liberation Front, Flying Bark Productions, Mighty Nice and Hahn Entertainment.
3D modeller with a specialty in character modelling and face sculpting, currently Senior Modeller at CDW Animation. Previous clients include Chocolate Liberation Front, Flying Bark Productions, Mighty Nice and Hahn Entertainment. He has worked on projects including The New Adventures of Figaro Pho, BotterSnikes and Gumbles, Blinky Bill and Dota 2.
Joe Helmore is an experienced 3D animator with five years of tertiary education including a Bachelor of Visual Communication Design and a Diploma of 3D Animation. As a character animator, he has worked for Assembly LTD, Animal logic, Fuel VFX, Mighty Nice, Plastic wax and Blockhead VFX.
Animator with extensive experience in the industry, Loïc has been working and leading across stylized and VFX driven projects from "Despicable Me" to "Spider-Man: No Way Home". Other animation credits include "The Lego Movie" and "Love and Monsters". In June 2022, Loïc joined CDW Animation as the new Head of Animation.
Jake is an Adelaide based 3D animator Bachelor of Creative Art (Hons) Graduate. Jake has been a part of the CDW Animation team since 2019, and has extensive experience with motion capture processing and clean up, keyframe animation, scene layout, facial acting, and body mechanics.
Jake is an Adelaide based 3D animator Bachelor of Creative Art (Hons) Graduate. Jake has been a part of the CDW Animation team since 2019, and has extensive experience with motion capture processing and clean up, keyframe animation, scene layout, facial acting, and body mechanics. As an instructor, Jake loves to teach students how to get the most out of their animations by focusing on acting and performance.
Michelle is a 3D Animator based in Adelaide, Australia, specialising in creature animation. Michelle is currently working at our sister studio CDW Animation, on developing scene layout, keyframe animation and motion capture processing and cleanup. When she isn't in the studio, Michelle instructs students on foundational animation principles, the intricacies of working in Maya and advanced body mechanics.
Michelle is a 3D Animator based in Adelaide, Australia, specialising in creature animation. Michelle started her arts career after gaining her Bachelor of Visual Arts as a freelance artist and graphic designer before discovering a passion for animation. Upon immediate completion of her second degree, Michelle was picked up by our sister studio CDW Animation, where she has worked ever since - on developing scene layout, keyframe animation as well as motion capture processing and cleanup. When she isn't in the studio, Michelle instructs students on foundational animation principles, the intricacies of working in Maya and advanced body mechanics.
Joe Helmore is an experienced 3D animator with five years of tertiary education including a Bachelor of Visual Communication Design and a Diploma of 3D Animation. As a character animator, he has worked for Assembly LTD, Animal logic, Fuel VFX, Mighty Nice, Plastic wax and Blockhead VFX.
Joe Helmore is an experienced 3D animator with five years of tertiary education including a Bachelor of Visual Communication Design and a Diploma of 3D Animation. As a character animator, he has worked for Assembly LTD, Animal logic, Fuel VFX, Mighty Nice, Plastic wax and Blockhead VFX. He knows what it takes to work in the industry and is keen to pass on his knowledge to hungry artists!
Steve is a Senior VFX Artist and is head of VFX at Resin: Animation and Visual Effects Studio. Resin has worked with some major clients such as Disney, Braun, Mitsubishi Motors, Jacob's Creek, Michelin, Bridgestone and Foxtel. Steve's favourite work came from being involved in VFX on Red Dog or Hunters. Steve's advice for aspiring artists is to 'Learn to problem solve'.
Steve is a Senior VFX Artist and is head of VFX at Resin: Animation and Visual Effects Studio. Resin has worked with some major clients such as Disney, Braun, Mitsubishi Motors, Jacob's Creek, Michelin, Bridgestone and Foxtel. Steve's favourite work came from being involved in VFX on Red Dog or Hunters. Steve has studied for many years undertaking a Cert 4 in Multimedia, Diploma of Screen (CGI/Visual effects), Adv Diploma of Screen and Bachelor of Creative Arts (Majoring in screen studies). He has beat the odds to teach himself how to use Nuke.
Steve's advice for aspiring artists is to 'Learn to problem solve'. "We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them." Albert Einstein.
3D modeller with a specialty in character modelling and face sculpting, currently Senior Modeller at CDW Animation. Previous clients include Chocolate Liberation Front, Flying Bark Productions, Mighty Nice and Hahn Entertainment.
3D modeller with a specialty in character modelling and face sculpting, currently Senior Modeller at CDW Animation. Previous clients include Chocolate Liberation Front, Flying Bark Productions, Mighty Nice and Hahn Entertainment. He has worked on projects including The New Adventures of Figaro Pho, BotterSnikes and Gumbles, Blinky Bill and Dota 2.
Originally from Melbourne, Josh travelled to Adelaide to study at CDW Studios full time. With a fierce work ethic he successfully achieved a role working in Concept at Rising Sun Pictures in 2017, and moved into a matte painting position. He has worked on major Hollywood films including Logan, Thor: Ragnarok, Tomb Raider, Captain Marvel, and Ford vs. Ferrari.
Originally from Melbourne, Josh travelled to Adelaide to study at CDW Studios full time. With a fierce work ethic he successfully achieved a role working in Concept at Rising Sun Pictures in 2017, and moved into a matte painting position. He has worked on major Hollywood films including Logan, Thor: Ragnarok, Tomb Raider, Captain Marvel, and Ford vs. Ferrari.
Houdini FX Artist with a background in compositing and pipeline/tool development, currently Head Of FX at CDW Animations.
Previous work includes Mortal Kombat, Love and Monsters, Candyman, Philip-k's "Electric Dreams" and Storm Boy.
Houdini FX Artist with a background in compositing and pipeline/tool development, currently Head Of FX at CDW Animations.
Previous work includes Mortal Kombat, Love and Monsters, Candyman, Philip-k's "Electric Dreams" and Storm Boy.
Yo Alex, We need some blurb here!
Alex Colvin is a Senior Artist with 14 years industry experience in television, video games and collectables. Alex specializes in character art and has worked with companies like Team Bondi, the PRA, Flying Bark, Mighty Kingdom and Team Cherry. Throughout the years Alex has led many teams as both lead 3D artist and Lead Artist. Alex brings his wealth of experience to our students, making sure they have the know-how, skills and direction required to meet the needs of the Entertainment Industry.
3D modeller and character artist based in Adelaide, Australia, working at Rising Sun Pictures. Previous work on productions including: Logan, Thor Ragnarok, Ford v Ferrari, Spider-Man: Far From Home, The Boys, Mortal Kombat, and Captain Marvel. Previous employers include Monkey Stack, Iloura, and WeMadeAThingStudios.
3D modeller and character artist based in Adelaide, Australia, working at Rising Sun Pictures. Previous work on productions including: Logan, Thor Ragnarok, Ford v Ferrari, Spider-Man: Far From Home, The Boys, Mortal Kombat, and Captain Marvel. Previous employers include Monkey Stack, Iloura, and WeMadeAThingStudios.
