Knifedge : The Creative Network | Who We Are - John Keates

Who We Are

John Keates

3D Animator and Illustrator

John Keates

John Keates has a traditional Fine Art background but has since developed the skills of a 3D animator and computer graphics artist. He combines an ability to develop artistic ideas with the technical facility needed to execute them.

John cut his teeth in the production graphics world working with Knifedge on projection content for the musical “Sunday in the Park with George” which won awards including the Oliver, Evening Standard and Critics' Circle. He designed and executed many of the required effects, some of which married 2D with 3D creation methods in original ways.

Knifedge was recently presented with two IVCA Awards for Sims style animation illustrating the effects of hate crimes. John took many roles in this project, managing a team of animators as well as producing much of the work and acting as technical director.

John began his career as an oil painter making ambitious work, mostly in a realistic/surrealist style, having several solo and group exhibitions. He began taking on illustration work whilst training himself in 3D animation. He has worked for clients such as the BBC, Symbian, Canary Classics and Nokia. John has an ability to adopt many styles, mimicking Japanese Manga, re-producing the work of George Seurat and making photo-real 3D imagery.