Stuart Mackay

Gormflaith: A Reimagined Irish Queen

Synopsis

My Honours project focuses on creating a high-fidelity 3D character model inspired by Shauna Lawless' Gael Song historical fantasy series. My vision for this project is a professionally modelled, textured and rendered 3D character, intended for games. ​My research will focus on investigating technical aspects of high-fidelity character creation such as; modern modelling, texturing, and rendering techniques, as well as foundational design skills such as anatomy and material representation. I will also explore design principles and 2D concept creation to ensure a compelling character design is created that reflects the historical time-period as well as mythological elements.

Project info

  • Developer Stuart Mackay
  • Showcase year 2025
  • Programme Computer Arts

What motivated you to develop/create this project?

Outside of character art, I really enjoy learning about history and mythology, and I found Shauna Lawless' take on Irish History and mythology to be very compelling. I think historical fantasy is a great gateway to learning about different cultures and time periods, and there is so much that can be taken from it to influence a character model.

What has been a highlight of your time at Abertay?

My highlight of being at Abertay was without a doubt Dare Academy in 2024. Having the opportunity to create a game with talented peers of other disciplines was invaluable to me as an artist and showcasing the game at EGX was so much fun.

What are your hopes and future ambitions for after graduation?

After graduating I would love to work in the games industry as a character artist, I want to work on big projects and learn from those I highly admire!

Learn more:

https://www.artstation.com/stu_art

Share this page

Pause carousel

Play carousel