Backstory
Hi, I’m Ally. I’m a 31-year-old Games Design student at Canterbury Christ Church University, currently exploring the world of 2D game art, character design, and anything else I can get my hands on creatively.
I’d describe myself as a bit weird (in a good way), creative, slightly eccentric, and rarely short on ideas. I tend to embrace the quirky side of things, both in my personality and in my work, and I think that’s a big part of what makes it unique. I also have a fairly chaotic sense of humour (which has probably already made itself known on this page).
I was born in Herne Bay, Kent, then moved to Northamptonshire when I was about two and a half, before making my way back to Kent in the mid-2000s (clearly I just couldn’t stay away). I went to The Folkestone Academy, and later studied Musical Theatre and Music Performance in college, which is where my love for music (and mild stage chaos) really started.
I’m also proudly neurospicy (ADHD), which means I tend to approach things with a lot of curiosity, energy, and about five ideas at once (great for creativity, slightly less great for remembering where I put my tea).
Drawing & Music
I’ve been drawing for years as a hobby, but never really thought of it as something I could pursue seriously until now. Studying Games Design has completely changed that, and I’m currently building skills across 2D art, character design, and visual storytelling. I’ve also been dabbling in programming (still getting my head around this one) and getting into 3D art using Blender and AccuRIG which has quickly become something I really enjoy.
Alongside visual work, I’ve contributed to sound design in some of my university projects, including creating music for games which nicely ties back to my performance background and gives me an excuse to do a bit of everything.
Video Games
When it comes to video games, I’m a huge fan of the The Legend of Zelda series, especially The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, which is my all-time favourite (I clearly have a soft spot for slightly darker, weirder games). I even have a tattoo inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on my right shoulder. Outside of that, I spend a lot of time playing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, RuneScape / Old School RuneScape, and Stardew Valley, so I enjoy everything from story-rich RPGs to more relaxed, cosy games.
My Dog
Outside of games and art, I live in Dover, Kent with my cocker spaniel, Merry who’s named after my favourite hobbit from The Lord of the Rings. He has absolutely no interest in games design but is very supportive anyway.
Closing Note
And finally, I’m a big fan of pizza and a good piña colada (and getting caught in the rain?) — a combination that’s either brilliant or very questionable, depending on the day. My favourite colour is purple, which may or may not explain some of my design choices.
Ally Dawson 