Neil K Kempsell
I was born in the west coast town of Helensburgh, Scotland, and followed my Father’s Naval career about the country, spending time in Edinburgh, and Dartmouth. Due to my Father serving overseas in Australia, I boarded at Queen Victoria School, Dunblane for 8 years and apart from casual work on a farm spreading muck, ran away to sea in 1976 at the tender age of 17, to see the world.
After serving as a Navigating Officer for 7 years, I decided to change tack, and went to Art College in Edinburgh. Four years of creative endevour resulted in a BA(hons) in Design, specialising in Illustration and Animation. During this time 1984 -1989, I also did a Post Graduate in Animation, as well nurturing a fruitful and prolific freelance career, drawing cartoons, illustrations and caricatures for The Scotsman, The Sunday Times, Standard Life, Scottish Widows, Scottish Life, Kwik Fit, to name but a few.
In 1989, I created two animated commercials for TV. Further freelance commision work blossomed into “much in demand” Live Caricature performances at corporate and private functions, many held at top Scottish Hotels and other venues including The Balmoral, Gleneagles, The Caledonian, and Cameron House. I am now regarded as one of the leading “live” Caricaturists working in Scotland, and am invited to prestidous events throughout the Country.
In 1992 I completed two short animated films in collaboration with The Royal Botanical Gardens, on the subject of Herbal Medicines. In 2004-05 I produced and directed an International Award winning animated film “Hallaig” in collaboration with the late musician Martyn Bennett, exploring the Highland clearance village of Hallaig on Raasay. The award winning film “Hallaig” has been shown internationally at the following venues;
Hallaig International Film Festivals and Awards :
International festival of Cinema Technology 2006
The IFCT 2006 Award for Best Visual Innovation – The IFCT 2006 Award for Best Experimental Film
New York, Orlando, U S A
December 2006 (Film Festival)
Reel 2006 Poetic Cinema
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
November 2006 (Film Festival)
3rd Zebra Poetry Film Awards
Literaturwerkstatt Berlin, Germany
October 2006 (Film Festival)
Festival Du Cinema De Paris 2005
Palmares award for La Direction d’Art
Paris, France
August 2006 (Film Festival)
WESTERN EUROPE PREMIERE
Festival de Cine International de Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain
July 2006 (Film Festival)
Evora International Film Festival
Evora, Portugal
November 2005 (Film Festival)
Arpa International Film Festival
Hollywood, U S A
October 2005 (Film Festival)
NORTH AMERICA PREMIERE
Rome International Film Festival
Georgia, U S A
September 2005 (Film Festival)
Oxford Film Festival
‘Spirit of Hoka’ Award for Best experimental Film
Mississippi, U S A
September 2005 (Film Festival)
Tahoe/ Reno International Film Festival
Nevada, U S A
August 2005 (Film Festival)
Rushes Soho Shorts Film Festival
London, Cambridge, Birmingham, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
August 2005 (Film Festival)
Forest Film festival
Portland, Oregon, U S A
May 2005 (Film Festival)
Moondance International Film Festival
‘Moondance Seahorse’ Award for Short Film
Boulder, Colorado, U S A
May 2005 (Film Festival)
Hearts and Minds Film festival
Wilmington, Delaware, U S A
March 2005 (Film Festival)
Tiburon International Film festival
Tiburon, California, U S A
March 2005 (Film Festival)
Student and Independent Film festival
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
March 2005 (Film Festival)
Recently I have been busy producing regular Caricatures for The National newspapers, and cartoons for The Holyrood Magazine, as well as creating short Animated Flash commisions.
Ambitions :
I want to continue making innovative Short Experimental Animated Films. I would like to collaborate more with musicians and contemorary composers, poets and storytellers. I want more time and money to make more films but doesn’t everyone!
Project in development:
I am now in the initial planning and development stages of making a new Animated film in collaboration with The Edinburgh Music School, based on another Martyn Bennett musical score. The film explores the colour and form of landscape and Gaelic symbolism and meaning through sound and time, and its links to The “Ceòl Mòr” or piobaireachd (literally meaning “pipering” or the actions of a piper). I’m at present seeking various funding sources and initiatives. Wish me luck!
Influences, inspirations and favourite films:
Experimental animated films that stimulate the brain as well as the eyes. I love to see the use of new digital technologies combined with traditional film making methods to create innovation and emotion. I also love the musical scores of Ennio Morricone.