I'm Rory David Payton, a Lead / Senior VFX Artist with 29 years in game development, specializing in explosive, high-impact visual effects across AAA and stylized titles. I work with Unreal Niagara, shader FX, cinematic sequencing, and real-time pipelines. I excel at leading teams, collaborating across disciplines, and delivering polished visuals under pressure. I'm seeking immediate opportunities to bring dynamic VFX to new projects. I thrive on building cohesive VFX pipelines, mentoring artists, and delivering cinematic quality that translates seamlessly into gameplay. My experience spans cutscenes, UI FX, environments, and cross-platform optimization, always aiming for visuals that elevate the player experience.…

Rory David Payton

I'm Rory David Payton, a Lead / Senior VFX Artist with 29 years in game development, specializing in explosive, high-impact visual effects across AAA and stylized titles. I work with Unreal Niagara, shader FX, cinematic sequencing, and real-time pipelines. I excel at leading teams, collaborating across disciplines, and delivering polished visuals under pressure. I'm seeking immediate opportunities to bring dynamic VFX to new projects. I thrive on building cohesive VFX pipelines, mentoring artists, and delivering cinematic quality that translates seamlessly into gameplay. My experience spans cutscenes, UI FX, environments, and cross-platform optimization, always aiming for visuals that elevate the player experience.…

Available to hire

I’m Rory David Payton, a Lead / Senior VFX Artist with 29 years in game development, specializing in explosive, high-impact visual effects across AAA and stylized titles. I work with Unreal Niagara, shader FX, cinematic sequencing, and real-time pipelines. I excel at leading teams, collaborating across disciplines, and delivering polished visuals under pressure. I’m seeking immediate opportunities to bring dynamic VFX to new projects.

I thrive on building cohesive VFX pipelines, mentoring artists, and delivering cinematic quality that translates seamlessly into gameplay. My experience spans cutscenes, UI FX, environments, and cross-platform optimization, always aiming for visuals that elevate the player experience.

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Skills

Experience Level

Work Experience

Lead VFX Artist at Ripstone
October 1, 2024 - October 4, 2025
Invited to lead the VFX department, upskilled in Unreal Engine, developed high-quality VFX for Infinity including key moments like the checkmate sequence, collaborated with code and design teams to ensure impact and performance, supervised artists on VFX integration and lighting, and delivered VFX support for multiple pitch projects.
Senior VFX Artist / Co-Lead VFX Artist at Cloud Imperium Games
May 1, 2023 - October 4, 2025
Joined on-site as Senior VFX Artist for Squadron 42, created high-quality VFX in StarEngine, collaborated with Managing Director Chris Roberts to deliver the Quantum Drive VFX to exact specifications, served as co-lead with senior artists, authored Jira tasks, provided Photoshop mock-ups with coordinates and references, and mentored junior team members.
Senior VFX Artist / Senior Cutscene VFX Artist at TT Games / TTFusion
March 1, 2022 - October 4, 2025
Led and delivered cutscene VFX across multiple titles, built and lit environments, created a brand-new cutscene effects library for LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, replaced and optimized large portions of in-game VFX with cutscene-quality effects, and supported cross-department collaboration.
Senior VFX Artist at Build A Rocket Boy
June 1, 2022 - October 4, 2025
Senior VFX Artist on project Everywhere, contributing to cinematic and in-game effects and collaborating with art and design teams.
Artist at Gizmondo Studios Manchester
January 1, 2009 - October 4, 2025
Created VFX assets and contributed to project pipelines, integrating effects into games and supporting art direction.
Artist at Oxygen Interactive Studios
January 1, 2009 - October 4, 2025
Worked on multiple titles including King Of Clubs, Pirates, My Dress Up, My Make Up, My Secret Diary, and My Friends, contributing VFX and art assets.
Artist at Coyote Developments
December 31, 2006 - October 4, 2025
Contributed as an artist on various projects, delivering VFX and art content.
Artist at Warthog Games Ltd
July 1, 2004 - October 4, 2025
Environment artist on US consultancy work in Nevada; projects included Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter and Need For Speed Underground; contributed to Daredevil (unreleased).
Consultant at Independent Consultancy – UK
December 31, 2001 - October 4, 2025
Freelance consultancy with projects including Parkville Productions TV show pilot, British Gas CGI Showrooms, Mirage Technologies QA/Level Builder/Junior Artist/Designer/Animator, and titles such as Bedlam, Absolute Bedlam, Rise Of The Robots 2, Pool Shark.
Lead VFX Artist at Ripstone
October 1, 2024 - October 1, 2024
Led VFX direction for Chess Infinity and pitch projects. Delivered cinematic FX using Unreal Sequencer and supervised integration, lighting, and performance optimization.
Senior VFX Artist / Co-Lead at Cloud Imperium Games
May 1, 2023 - May 1, 2023
Created FX in StarEngine for Squadron 42, delivered Quantum Drive FX to director's spec, co-led planning with senior artists, and authored Jira tasks and mock-ups.
Senior VFX Artist at Build A Rocket Boy
June 1, 2022 - June 1, 2022
Contributed to early VFX development for EVERYWHERE.
Senior Cutscene VFX Artist at TT Games / TT Fusion
March 1, 2022 - March 1, 2022
Progressed through multiple roles over six years, culminating in official credit as Senior Cutscene VFX Artist on LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga and led cutscene FX across LEGO titles.
Artist at Oxygen Interactive Studios
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2009
Worked on various projects including King of Clubs and Pirates.
Artist at Coyote Developments
December 1, 2006 - December 1, 2006
Contributed to the development of titles like Reservoir Dogs and Bratz 2.
Artist at Gizmondo Studios Manchester
July 1, 2005 - July 1, 2005
Worked on unreleased title Supernaturals.
Artist at Blitz Games
May 1, 2005 - May 1, 2005
Worked on Pac-Man World 3.
Artist at Warthog Games Ltd
July 1, 2004 - July 1, 2004
Worked on titles such as Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter and Need for Speed Underground.
Freelance Artist at Independent Consultancy - UK
January 1, 2001 - January 1, 2001
Provided artistic services for various clients including Parkville Productions.
QA / Level Builder / Junior Artist at Mirage Technologies Ltd
October 1, 1998 - October 1, 1998
Worked on titles like Bedlam and Rise Of The Robots 2.
Independent VFX & 3D Artist (UK Sole Trader) at RDP-VFX
June 1, 2025 - Present
Registered UK sole trader operating under the company name RDP-VFX, established to pursue short-term contract and freelance opportunities. Actively developing production-ready real-time and cinematic VFX and 3D assets for games and interactive projects; available immediately.
Lead VFX Artist at Ripstone
October 1, 2023 - October 1, 2024
Led VFX direction for Chess Infinity and pitch projects; Delivered cinematic FX using Unreal Sequencer; Trained in Unreal & Houdini via Udemy and Mastered Bootcamp; Supervised integration, lighting, and performance optimization.
Senior VFX Artist at Ripstone
June 1, 2023 - October 1, 2023
Delivered cinematic FX using Unreal Sequencer; Mentored junior artists; Authored and reviewed detailed Jira tasks; Conducted regular VFX reviews; Collaborated with production, code, design and audio to implement VFX on budget and on schedule.
Senior VFX Artist / Co-Lead at Cloud Imperium Games
June 1, 2022 - May 1, 2023
Created FX in StarEngine for Squadron 42; Delivered Quantum Drive FX to Chris Roberts’ spec; Co-led planning with senior artists; authored Jira tasks and mock-ups; Mentored juniors; Promoted cross-department collaboration.
VFX Artist → Senior VFX Artist → Senior Cutscene VFX Artist at TT Games / TT Fusion (Warner Bros. Games)
November 1, 2016 - March 1, 2022
Led cutscene FX across LEGO Star Wars, Marvel, DC, Ninjago, and related titles; Delivered cinematic VFX for cutscenes, set pieces, boss fights, gameplay, UI, and holograms; Created unified FX library improving cohesion and performance; Collaborated with animation, lighting, and design teams.
Environment Artist at TT Fusion / TT Games
February 1, 2009 - November 1, 2016
Built, textured, and lit game environments and props; Worked across multiple LEGO titles and platforms.
Artist at Oxygen Interactive Studios
January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2009
Titles included King Of Clubs, Pirates, My Dress Up, My Make Up, My Secret Diary, My Friends.
Artist at Coyote Developments
July 1, 2005 - December 1, 2006
Titles: Reservoir Dogs, Bratz 2, Burger King (highest selling game of 2006). US consultancy work as environment artist.
Artist at Warthog Games Ltd
February 1, 2001 - July 1, 2004
Titles: Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter, Animaniacs, Need For Speed Underground, Daredevil (unreleased); US consultancy work as environment artist in Nevada.
Freelance Artist / Independent Consultancy – UK at Self-employed
January 1, 1998 - December 31, 2001
US/UK freelance artist working with clients including Parkville Productions, British Gas, Mirage Technologies Ltd.
QA / Level Builder / Junior Artist at Mirage Technologies Ltd
August 1, 1996 - October 1, 1998
Titles: Bedlam, Absolute Bedlam, Rise Of The Robots 2, Pool Shark.

Education

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Industry Experience

Gaming, Media & Entertainment, Software & Internet

Skills

Experience Level