Character & Creature Modeller

Heather
Courage

London, UK · Film · Cinematic · Game Optimisation

Production-focused Character and Creature Modeller specialising in high-resolution sculpting, clean subdivision-ready geometry, and accurate model production from photographic reference, illustration, and concept design. Comfortable across the full character pipeline — initial sculpt through retopology, UV layout, look development, and pipeline delivery.

Credited as Sculptor and Look Development Artist on The Legacy of Adam (2022–2024). Recognised as an Official Maxon ZBrush Live Streamer since 2025, demonstrating professional sculpting workflows and anatomy-driven stylised character development to an international audience.

Heather Courage

Maxon Official

ZBrush Live Streamer

Industry Credit

The Legacy of Adam

Community

Women in Games Ambassador

The Rookies

A-Rank Recognition

Selected Experience

Masterclass Instructor

2026 — Present

Solent University

Delivering specialist ZBrush masterclasses covering anatomy, character sculpting, and production-ready modelling workflows for undergraduate students.

Founder & Lead Character Artist

2025 — Present

Firestorm Studio

Boutique production support delivering full character pipeline assets — high-poly sculpt through retopology, UV mapping, texturing and engine export — to indie developers on structured milestone schedules.

Lead Character Artist & Creative Consultant

2024 — Present

Skaverna — Cinematic Fantasy IP

Leading character modelling and world-building asset production for a cinematic fantasy property; consulting on art direction, pipeline structure, and scalable workflows for both real-time and cinematic rendering.

Lead Character Artist

2025

Project Titan — One Mind Media

Art direction and end-to-end character production on a cinematic animation piece developed as investor funding material for a full-length independent film. Established visual consistency across the production and led look development for the character roster.

Sculptor & Look Development Artist

2022 — 2024

The Legacy of Adam — Cinematic Production

Two-year contribution to a semi-stylised cinematic production. Produced high-resolution character sculpts from photographic and concept reference, and contributed to look development across the character roster.

Character Artist

2023 — 2024

Traversed Realms — Indie Game Production

Stylised character sculpts and models through a complete high-to-low poly pipeline — retopology, UV mapping, and PBR texture authoring in Substance Painter — optimised for real-time performance.

Technical Assistant & Tutor

2023

CG Spectrum — Advanced 3D Programme

Invited to provide structured feedback on character modelling, sculpting, and topology to advanced students, supporting portfolio development aligned with industry production standards.

Recognition & Community

  • workspace_premium

    Official Maxon ZBrush Live Streamer

    Selected by Maxon (2025) to demonstrate professional ZBrush sculpting workflows to an international audience.

  • campaign

    London Games Festival — Speaker

    Invited to speak to new and upcoming talent on the journey of an independent character artist and how to navigate the industry.

  • diversity_3

    Women in Games Ambassador

    Active advocate for inclusion and diversity across the games and visual effects industries.

  • stars

    The Rookies — Excellence / A-Rank

    Peer- and industry-recognised achievement in 3D character art at a globally competitive level.

Core Skills

High-Resolution Character Sculpting · Creature Modelling · Subdivision-Ready Topology · Retopology · UV Mapping & Optimisation · Look Development · PBR Texturing & Material Authoring · Reference-Based Modelling · Cinematic & VFX Pipeline Delivery · Cross-Department Collaboration · Iterative Development from Art Direction · Asset Pipeline Planning & Workflow Consultancy

The Toolkit

The instruments of digital craftsmanship.

Primary Tools

ZBrush
Approved Live Streamer
Maya
Modelling & UV
Substance Painter
Texturing & Look Dev
Marmoset Toolbag
Real-time Rendering
FiberShop
Hair & Fur
RizomUV
UV Layout

Engine Experience

Unreal Engine 5 · Unity

Production Tools

Confluence · GitHub · Slack · Jira

Working Awareness

3D Coat · Marvelous Designer · Photoshop

Education & Training

2025 — 2026

Advanced ZBrush

Maxon ZBrush

Specialist mentoring and training on advanced ZBrush usage and functionality, delivered by the ZBrush team as part of the approved Live Streamer programme.

2024 — 2025

Personal Mentorship

Anna Begowska

One-to-one creative mentorship focused on stylised character development and personal portfolio direction.

2023 — 2024

Advanced 3D Character Art

CG Spectrum

Specialist programme covering high-poly sculpting, retopology, UV layout, and production pipeline. Completed with distinction, leading to invitation as Technical Assistant.

Let's build something
extraordinary.

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