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SARAH UPTON GAME ART, GAME DEV, GAME DESIGN (Presentation).png

Let's put a face to the work

My name is Sarah Upton

I’m a passionate Game Artist, Designer and Developer with 2 shipped titles and hands-on experience across the full game development pipeline. Specialising in 3D asset creation, rigging and animating in Blender, real-time rendering, environmental art and shader development in Unity and Unreal Engine 5. Proficient in C# and C++, Unity Shader Graph, particle systems and level design. Proven ability to deliver game-ready assets under pressure through Game Jam’s, studio internships and industry experience.

Soft skills:

Hard Skills:

  • 3D Asset Creation & Modelling — Blender

  • Rigging & Skeletal Animation

  • Character & Object Animation

  • PBR Texturing & UV Unwrapping

  • Environmental Art

  • Pixel Art — Aseprite

  • 2D Frame-by-Frame Animation

  • Concept Art & Game Design Documentation - Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator

  • Unity Game Development

  • Unreal Engine 5

  • C# Programming

  • C++ Programming

  • Unity Shader Graph

  • Particle Systems & VFX

  • Lighting

  • Level Design

  • Unity Asset Implementation

  • Source Control — GitHub, Gitfork

  • Game-Ready Asset Optimisation

  • Legacy Asset Troubleshooting & Repair

  • Full Game Development Pipeline

  • Advergame Development

  • Self-Directed & Independent Worker

  • Creative Initiative & Problem Solving

  • Team Collaboration — 7-person studio environment

  • Time Management & Deadline Driven

  • Cross-Department Communication

  • Adaptability across full game development pipeline

  • Attention to Detail

  • Creative Ideation & Concept Development

  • Accountability & Ownership of Work

  • Ability to Work Under Pressure

Work Experience:

Classy Games — Game Developer & 3D Artist

January 2026 – May 2026

  • Created and delivered a library of 100+ game-ready 3D assets in Blender, optimised for real-time rendering and implementation in Unity

  • Rigged and animated a variety of characters and objects including death animations, character animations and static prop animations, ensuring seamless integration into the Unity pipeline

  • Worked independently and self-directed, conceptualising and producing assets using creative initiative while consulting with the lead to ensure alignment with the game's vision

  • Diagnosed and resolved issues within legacy and broken asset pipelines, applying strong technical problem-solving skills to restore functionality without disrupting production

  • Contributed as a core member of a 7-person development team, maintaining assets under source control (GitHub) and delivering consistently to production deadlines

  • Shipped projects currently available on Steam (Orbital & Silly Suspects), demonstrating experience taking games to a professional release-ready standard.

Studio Bo — Game Development Intern

2025

  • Independently developed and shipped a complete game from concept to release — Tentacles and Tail (available on itch.io) covering all aspects of the pipeline solo

  • Sole creator responsible for game design, pixel art (Aseprite), 2D animation and C# development within Unity, demonstrating full pipeline capability

  • Created all artwork in Aseprite, producing frame-by-frame pixel art characters, animations and UI assets

  • Worked under the direct mentorship of the Lead Game and Studio Owner, receiving professional guidance while maintaining full creative and technical ownership of the project

The Loeries — Advertising Awards Finalist

2025

  • Selected as a Loeries Finalist — one of Africa's most prestigious creative awards — for an advergame designed and developed as a fully interactive advertising experience. Deliveralot (available on itch.io).

  • Demonstrated ability to merge game design and development with marketing briefs, producing work that competed at a professional industry level

  • Created 50+ game ready 3D assets in Blender ready for Unity Implementation.

education:

VEGA School Cape Town BCIS in Game Design and Development — 2023 to 2025

  • Specialised in game design, 3D art, game development and interactive media

  • Gained hands-on experience across the full game development pipeline including Unity, Unreal Engine 5 and Blender

  • Completed degree alongside shipped titles and professional studio experience.

Milnerton High School National Senior Certificate — 2018 to 2022

  • Achieved Bachelor's Pass with 76% aggregate

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