Deanna Gow

My name is Deanna Gow and I am a third year student studying The Art of Video Games. I have always enjoyed the vibrant characters, immersive worlds, gripping stories told by games and I would find it extremely fulfilling to work alongside like-minded individuals and contribute to the development of a game. I want to work in the Games Industry because I find making art to be mentally and creatively satisfying. My goal after graduating is to work as a Junior Environment/Prop Artist.

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GET TO KNOW DEANNA

Describe yourself in 5 words.

Perseverant, reliable, affable, flexible and responsive.

What hobbies do you have?

One of my main hobbies is raiding with my friends in the MMORPG 'Final Fantasy XIV'. We are currently progressing through the final stage of one of the hardest pieces of content in the game, which involves a lot of teamwork, clear communication, organisation and puzzle-solving. I also enjoy drawing and of course, playing video games.

What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses?

My biggest strength is my positive, can-do attitude. I am always looking to improve my art so if I am given feedback, I will strive to implement it. I also have an eye for detail and I greatly enjoy making anything that has a lot of intricacies. However, I sometimes get too caught up in the details that I get distracted from the wider goal. I've learnt that sometimes simple but effective works just as well as complex.

Tell us an achievement you're proud of.

During my third year specialism project, I had feedback sessions with a Professional Environment Artist from Ubisoft. It was the first time I had gotten feedback from a Studio Artist on a solo project. During my final feedback session with him, I was very happy with how complimentary he was towards my work as I had overcome a lot of challenges in the course of the project. His comments boosted my confidence as an Artist and I am proud of how much I have managed to develop my skills over the course of this year.

Which game inspired you the most to choose this career path and why/how?

Arkane Studios' Dishonored series was a big influence on my decision to become a Game Artist. When I first played the series, the artistry and clever, story-rich environment design was unlike anything I had ever experienced up until then. I also greatly admire the attention to detail that they give to even the most ordinary of objects.

What video game character best embodies you and why?

Emet-Selch, my favourite Final Fantasy character. He is a determined man who won't let anything stand in the way of his goals. He works not just for his own sake, but also for his people. He's also a lover of the arts and comes from a city with art deco architecture, which is one of my favourite art styles.

What was your crowning moment of your time at Escape?

Getting to work with so many other like-minded individuals. Watching myself and them develop and improve as artists has been extremely fulfilling.