Animation Artist Rachael Purdy

Rachael Purdy is a self employed and freelance animator based in the UK who travels worldwide with her work.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
An animator

What did you become?
An Animator

What's your background - how did you end up here?
I got my degree in animation in 2006, went of travelling for a year, got heaps of contacts, which has given me the freedom to become self employed.

How would you describe your work to a complete stranger?
Short films, cartoons, art, internet based, onset film work, etc.

What's the first thing career related you usually do each day?
Check my e-mails.

Can you describe an "average" working day for you?
I get up at 8am, check my e-mails, go through all the things I have written to do in my diary for that day (animation, scripts, etc), then at 4pm I break off for a little shameless self promotion through social networking sites and wrap things up at 5pm.

Who or what in the arts world most inspires you?
My passion is stop motion animation. I am inspired by Tim Burton, Disney, Ray Harryhausen and many other people. I find that days out and events really inspire me too.

What's the toughest challenge you've dealt with on the job?
Everyday is a challenge, I like to take on things I have never done before or to animate things I see as a challenge so that I grow to learn new things.

What's the best piece of advice you were ever given for your career?
To travel and pursue things. Follow your dreams.

What are the top three skills you need in your particular role?
Animation, PC literate and Passion.

What's the best thing about your job?
It’s so much fun and I do something different everyday. I get a lot of freedom and I get to travel a lot.

And the worst?
I guess the only bad point is being self employed you have to make sure you put the work in or you won’t get paid… there's no time for being sick.

And if you had to sum your working life in a word or phrase, what would it be?
Awesome!

To see some examples of Rachael's work visit:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPSeMJTTFvw
www.flowingdreams.co.uk