Christopher Dickens
I am an animation student specialising in background design and concept art.
About
![Christopher Dickens](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/content_summary_free_image_webp/public/2022-04/c-dickens-profile.jpg.webp?itok=cRmq0Il2)
I am drawn to the visual development of storytelling, and am interested in exploring the different ways to set a scene.
Over the last year I have dedicated a lot of time to the group graduate film "Sickly Sweet", where I designed the environments, colour script, layouts and the eventual coloured backgrounds, which in total was 62 shots.
My personal projects included visual development for Roald Dahl's "Charlie & the Chocolate Factory", if it were to be developed into a hypothetical 2D animated film. This project included a lot of world building with the various character and environment concepts, which I also created backgrounds from based on hypothetical scene storyboarding.
Another personal project "Ember Apocalypse" follows title character Ember and her cat in a zombie apocalypse. I created a mask turnaround for the main character and also developed other props, such as makeshift weapons, as well as exploring Ember's home setting.
Throughout these projects, I have enjoyed exploring colour and style, as I feel it has continued to develop my skills as an artist.
Establishing Shot, Sickly Sweet
![An overview frame of a medieval village with tall buildings at night. The village has a strong blue atmosphere with some moonlight reflecting on the rooftops](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/student_work_desktop_1440w/public/2022-04/c-dickens-image-1.jpg?itok=TxpoCNZc)
Establishing shot overlooking the town for my group film, Sickly Sweet
Sickly Sweet Layouts
Character Concepts, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory
![Five golden picture frames horizontally decorating an orange wall, each containing an image of a golden ticket holder](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/student_work_desktop_1440w/public/2022-04/c-dickens-image-2.jpg?itok=D_h5FFnH)
Concept piece of the five golden ticket holders.
The Large Television
![A shot showing a large pink metallic rectangular 60s style television machine in the centre of the frame with a bright green/blue screen lighting up the room. A black table is sitting close to the right with a bucket of popcorn resting on top](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/student_work_desktop_1440w/public/2022-04/c-dickens-image-3.jpg?itok=dW0jV9yA)
A painted layout from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory derived from storyboards.
The Chocolate Room
![A wide shot of a valley with round meadows and mountains at either side, a chocolate river runs through the middle of the room and meets a chocolate waterfall at the back. The meadows at either side are decorated with bizarre, sweet plants, and the floor is pathed with large cookies.](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/student_work_desktop_1440w/public/2022-04/c-dickens-image-4.jpg?itok=W-fHDo9V)
A painted layout from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory derived from storyboards.
The Bucket House
![A dishevelled townhouse stands alone in a snowy street at night. Two windows are lit with a warm yellow glow from inside. Similar structures are seen placed all around in the distance. In the close foreground, a dark car sits stationary with a heavy pile of snow resting on top of it.](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/student_work_desktop_1440w/public/2022-04/c-dickens-image-5.jpg?itok=CK-IbUj3)
A painted layout from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory derived from storyboards.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Concept Designs
Ember Character Sheet
![A female character is in various poses with black hair, a purple and black shirt with a white Ghostface scream logo in the centre, black boots and navy ripped jeans. Separated from the character are an array of props, including a makeshift scythe created from a red stop sign and blue road sign, a metal facemask, a hunting bow, and a flaming arrow.](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/student_work_desktop_1440w/public/2022-04/c-dickens-image-6.jpg?itok=BuGRL1xA)
Design sheet for the main character Ember and some props associated with the character.
The Treehouse
![Low framed black and white value shot of the interior of a treehouse. A bed is close to the left with a mask resting against it. A thick sturdy branch comes up through the floor and out the ceiling in the centre and a window lighting up a desk is in the back. The desk and wall are covered with paint bottles and makeshift weapons like a workshop.](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/student_work_desktop_1440w/public/2022-04/c-dickens-image-7.jpg?itok=EDYzJuxV)
Layout key for Ember’s treehouse
Ember Apocalypse Concept Designs
More of my work can be seen on my Instagram and my portfolio website, linked here, which I actively keep up to date.