Sophie Knowles

 (She/Her)

Sophie’s breakthrough project is the game Viewfinder.

BAFTA Breakthrough is not the first initiative that games lead artist Sophie Knowles has engaged with, having joined BAFTA Games Crew in 2016, using it to make vital connections within the industry and book valuable freelance work. Now she’s working full-time for Sad Owl Studios, creators of her BAFTA-winning breakthrough project, Viewfinder, and has remained part of the BAFTA family by becoming a BAFTA Connect member, attending many of our Games Socials networking sessions.

Sophie graduated from London Metropolitan with a BA in Illustration and an MA in Character Animation from Central St Martin’s already knowing she wanted to work in games. Her 3D generalist knowledge of games art meant she was aptly suited to working as a lead and she found herself freelancing for a number of small indie studios, working on the likes of The Bradwell Conspiracy and Avo! (both 2019). She then joined Sad Owl in 2021 to specifically work on Viewfinder, the innovative 3D puzzler in which players use an instant camera to alter and navigate the game’s fiendish levels.

In their own words…

“I think generalists make really good leads, because you know a bit about all the things that the other people you’re managing know. I do always save some tasks I want to do myself, but mostly it’s managing and delegation and working with the art director to make sure everyone is on the same page… I think Breakthrough is a really cool opportunity. BAFTA has really embraced games and I think the industry is really appreciative of that. Every year, it’s been nice to see the games people who are part of the cohort.”