Scenic artist

Scenic artists (sometimes credited as scenic painters) work to briefs set by production designers and are usually highly trained artists or the may have trained to be scenic artists for film and TV productions. Scenic artists are usually a single person working on set pieces that include; painting set pieces, such as backdrops, cutouts, props, or permanent structures. They are often responsible for the recreation of authentic surfaces, as well as ageing and breakdown. Common tasks include simulating wood, stone, brick, metal, or stained glass. Scenic artists may also be responsible for the execution of portraits, murals, and similar pictorial assets for that production. These tasks may be credited to a scenic painter, who performs largely the same role as a scenic artist.

The credited role of scenic artist is one isolated to the 21st century BBC Wales-produced Doctor Who and Torchwood. However there are items from 20th century Doctor Who that are cited as being the creations of scenic artists. The copies of the Mona Lisa used in City of Death would have been the creation of a scenic artist at the BBC.

Thus far those credited on BBC Wales-produced TV storiesAs of 2013 as scenic artists are John Pinkerton, John Whalley, Steven Fudge, Allen Jones and Clive Clarke.

Beginning with Bad Wolf Productions-produced TV stories, the partnership with Screen Alliance Wales brought the introduction of scenic trainees, who fulfilled the same role but in a more controlled beginning-in-the-industry position.

Scenic painters have included John Whalley, Steven Fudge, Steve Nelms, Matt Weston, Paul Murray and Tim Hobbis.

Scenic trainees

• Luke Smith - Space Babies (TV story), The Devil's Chord (TV story)

External links

• Interview with a Scenic Painter