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NIGEL SHARMAN ILLUSTRATION.jpg
Profile

I am a hard-working and enthusiastic character who relishes working within a motivated team, but also thrives when working on individual projects. I am constantly interested in learning new skills and adding new experiences to the multitude of skills that I have already acquired. I am able to work under pressure and still sustain a quality of service, efficiently and successfully.

Education
Computer Graphics Course
University of the Arts London, Central St Martins

February 2014 - March 2014

BA (Hons) Illustration
University of Portsmouth

​October 2008 - July 2011

Foundation in Art & Design
University for the Creative Arts, Farnham

September 2007 - May 2008

Specialising in Graphic Design

A Levels
George Abbot Sixth Form College

September 2005 - June 2007

Graphics

Fine Art

ICT

 

Additional Qualifications

12 GCSE's including a Fast Track GCSE in Art & Design (2003)

Community Sports Leadership Award (CSLA)

 

Work Experience
References

References and portfolio PDF available on request.

Key Skills

I love to illustrate & draw in my own time & be creative. As well as this, I am continually updating my skills in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator & InDesign. I also have current design experience in Vectorworks & Cinema4D, along with recent experience in Corel Designer, Corel Photopaint & 3DS Max, all since working as a Playground Designer. I am competent in Microsoft Word, through previous typesetting & print job roles & have knowledge of Excel and Powerpoint. I also have administration experience in software such as Multichannel Order Management & OnePage(CRM).

St John's Green Playgroup 
July/August 2020

Designed and painted a fairytale mural scene, depicting 8 different fairytale stories, on a curved wall in a storytelling area, within the playgroups raised play area - Colchester, Essex.

Blackheath High Junior School 

October 2017

Designed and painted a London landscape mural as a backdrop for a climbing wall,
installed by Playtime by Fawns - Blackheath, London.

Maximus Gym & Martial Arts Centre

March 2014

Designed and painted a boxing mural in the dojo area of the gym in Frimley, Surrey.

Fruition Youth Centre

September 2013 - October 2013

Graffiti style painted half a mini to create a video games unit feature. This included a wall mural painting to incorporate the mini into the design - Yateley, Hampshire.

MessHeads Hair Design

July 2012 - September 2012

Work for Messheads Hair Design included a logo design, coat of arms design and designing and painting of interior feature wall murals within the salon - Aldershot, Hampshire.

Fratton Park, Portsmouth FC
July 2011 - 6 months

Designed and painted a timeline wall mural of football shirts underneath the North Stand of the stadium -  Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Fulcrum Design
August 2004

Office tasks included photocopying, as well as learning how to draw to scale, create floor plans, elevations and general architectural drawings. Tasks also included designing and drawing a house on a previously used, difficult site map - Guildford, Surrey.

Employment
Sawscapes Play, Alton
Project Designer & Developer / Design Manager & Sales Developer

September 2020 - March 2024 / March 2024 - Current

Sawscapes Play design, manufacture, supply and install playgrounds and play areas all over the south of England, offering a bespoke design service if required and including operations inspections and maintenance.

 

  • Management and tutorage of a Junior Designer who is new to the play industry.

  • Social media management and content creation, along with the management of the company’s marketing, including design work for brochures, flyers, stationary and show/event pop-up stands.

  • Liase directly with clients regarding potential projects and arrange site visits to discuss options and build up relationships.

  • Document and accurately measure proposed play areas, completing relevant forms with access, welfare and installation information.

  • Draw to-scale proposed playground area plans to precise measurements & client requirements.

  • Visualise the proposed play equipment in a 2D & 3D form within the clients existing play area/s, for their perusal, using the company photo library to help depict this.

  • Formulate quotations, itemising proposed works and sourcing prices from suppliers.

  • Design & create bespoke equipment and products for clients and for in-house product development.

  • Produce technical manufacturing and installation drawings for the workshop and site teams, including layouts & hole plans.

  • Creation of cutting lists and costing sheets for quotation purposes.

Playtime by Fawns, Farnborough
Designer / Senior Designer

​November 2015 - August 2018 / June 2019 - July 2020

Playtime by Fawns supply and install a wide range of outdoor play equipment; creating innovative and unique playscapes for schools, nurseries and parks, nationwide.

 

  • Draw to-scale proposed playground area plans to precise measurements and client requirements for quotation purposes.

  • Visualise the proposed play equipment in a 2D and 3D form within the existing area for the clients perusal.

  • Create photo montages of existing equipment to depict the proposed equipment to the client correctly.

  • Liase with nationwide Area Sales Representatives to amend drawings accordingly.

  • Design and create new product concepts for potential manufacturing purposes.

  • Create working drawings for the contracts management and production team.

  • In-house marketing material and brochure design concepts.

Hand Made Places, Bordon
Playground Designer & 3D Visualiser

​September 2018 - June 2019

As above but responsiblities also included -

 

  • Creating bespoke products, including cutting lists, for the estimation team to calculate accurate prices.

  • Maintaining & updating product standard sheets.

Ginger Ray UK Ltd, Chobham
Administration / Product Development Assistant

​March 2015 - October 2015

Ginger Ray are a fun, growing, design led party decorations and supplies company.

 

  • Import, shipping and manufacturing communications.

  • Sales order processing, invoicing and admin support.

  • Answering calls, incoming post and providing customer service to customers.

  • Listing all new seasonal products online across various platforms as required.

  • Liaising with designers on new product packaging.

  • Maintaining and updating product information  and reports in Excel and on internal systems.

  • Assisting designers in amending artworks.

  • Product sample and packaging checks.

  • Assist with the account management of existing clients.

Careprint, Albury
Office & Design Assistant

​July 2014 - March 2015

Careprint is a family run business based in the heart of the Surrey Hills, near the picturesque village of Albury. Trading since 1990 their goal is to make short run orders as easy and cost effective as possible. 
 

  • Ensuring the database is kept up to date and processing new orders ready for artwork production.

  • Assisting with the generation of artwork for any orders received.

  • Liaison with clients, giving professional guidance and assistance during the order process, both face to face and over the telephone to ensure full satisfaction with final artwork.

  • Adhereing to very tight deadlines for multiple short run print orders.

  • Artwork design for in-house portfolio’s and brochures.

  • Assisting with Production, Completion and Despatch of orders.

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