Game artist Nate Bedford on creating unique characters

Whether sketching strangers in cafés or dreaming up fantasy worlds, Game Art BA(Hons) alumni Nate Bedford’s love of storytelling through art has always been clear to him.

Now a Concept Artist for Milky Tea Studios, we caught up with him about what it takes to stay creatively inspired, and how drawing a robot every day for a month helped him land his first job in games.

Can you tell us about your time on the course?

I was actually part of the first cohort to go through Falmouth’s Game Art course, so it was really interesting to see the programme develop over time. I still have ties with Falmouth in lots of ways — I’ve seen how far the course has come, and I love where it is now.

For me, the best part of the course was learning concept art, but I picked up a lot from the other disciplines, too. I think the biggest takeaway was learning how I fit into a game pipeline and understanding the skills it takes to do that effectively. Those are skills that still help me today—and they’re also the reason I chose to study at Falmouth in the first place.

How did you find getting a job after graduating?

Finding a job in this industry is tough. I continued studying independently after finishing university, and eventually one of my personal projects gained traction. A studio spotted my work and thought my skillset matched their needs.

I worked on several personal projects, including March of the Robots — where I designed a robot every day in March based on a list of prompts.

That was the piece that got me noticed by Milky Tea Studios and led to an art test. I completed the test in June and started the role in August.

What do you like to draw the most?

I always find myself coming back to characters. My sketchbook is full of people at cafés, pubs, train stations... the world is just full of inspiration and I’m constantly drawing, adding to my visual library so I can create new and interesting characters.

I’m a big fantasy fan, so I’m known for my Norse giants, Dungeons & Dragons characters, and other magical creatures. This year, I’ve been working hard to evolve my environment art. The more you learn, the more it changes how you see the world—I’ve started looking at architecture in more depth, exploring how engines are built, and even studying the design of parks and coastal paths. It’s a lifelong pursuit. A few pieces that I look back fondly on can be found below.