Tony’s deep passion for computer graphics and animation inspired him to establish RealtimeUK in 1996, with the vision of creating a leading creative studio—a dream he has successfully realised. His journey began during his studies in Technical Illustration at Blackpool and The Fylde College, where he discovered his love for computer graphics. Motivated by this newfound interest, Tony dedicated his focus to CGI, eventually graduating and taking a bold leap into entrepreneurship with a £4,000 loan from his mother.
He wasn’t alone in this venture; Steve Kerswell and Jon Clayton, fellow graduates from the same Technical Illustration course, joined him in the early days of RealtimeUK. Many of the studio’s current team members also hail from the same course, maintaining a strong connection with the college that laid the foundation for their careers. The studio itself is located in a converted barn in Westby, a picturesque village on the Fylde Coast, just 15 minutes from the college. Tony has never felt the need to move to urban premises, cherishing the idyllic rural setting.
Over the years, RealtimeUK has evolved into a BAFTA-nominated VFX studio, renowned for blending artistic creativity with technical expertise to craft compelling CGI visuals. The studio specialises in cinematics and trailers for video games, VFX for episodic TV, and highly detailed 360-degree car configurators and marketing visuals for the automotive industry. With two studios in the North West of England, they have built an impressive portfolio spanning more than 25 years.
Recent highlights include VFX work on TV shows such as Doctor Who, The Winter King, Dance Monsters, and A Discovery of Witches, alongside video game cinematics for Jurassic Park: Survival, Need for Speed Unbound, F1 23, and Sea of Thieves. Their automotive collaborations with industry giants like Hennessey Performance, Lotus Group, Bentley, and Volkswagen further underline their versatility. Notably, their reimagining of the iconic Doctor Who title sequence earned them a BAFTA nomination in 2024.
Despite their extensive experience and global partnerships, RealtimeUK prides itself on maintaining a personal touch. Their philosophy of “Crafting Belief” reflects their commitment to pushing creative boundaries, delivering cinematic experiences with extraordinary attention to detail. By bridging artistry and technology, they have become a trusted name in the CGI industry, consistently bringing captivating worlds to life.
You can see some of the team’s fabulous work in the two clips featured below:
