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Peter Western To Receive BAFTA Special Award

16 November 2016
Event: Portraits of animator and illustrator Peter Western, Special Award recipient at the British Academy Children's Awards on Sun 20 November 2016Date: Tues 25 October 2016Venue: BAFTA, 195 PiccadillyBAFTA/Scott Kershaw

Industry-renowned animator and storyboard artist to be honoured at the British Academy Children’s Awards, 20 November 2016

Credits include Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Fungus the Bogeyman, Bing, Horrid Henry, The Village, The Snowman and the Snowdog, Space Jam and Quest for Camelot

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has announced today that Peter Western, one of the UK’s leading animators and storyboard artists, will be honoured with the Special Award at this year’s British Academy Children’s Awards on 20 November at the Roundhouse, London, in recognition of his exceptional contribution to animation.

With a career spanning 40 years, Western’s designs have brought to life best-loved animated characters across many celebrated television and film productions, including Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Fungus the Bogeyman, Bing, Horrid Henry, American Tail 2: Fievel Goes West, The Village, The Snowman and the Snowdog, Space Jam and Quest for Camelot.

Helen Blakeman, Chair of the BAFTA Children’s Committee, said: “Peter has a wealth of experience, gained from a passion and dedication to his craft as a storyboard artist. He continues to leave a mark on the industry by supporting the next generation of artists and animators, passing on his skill and unique insights through lectures and talks. His contribution to children’s television is outstanding. Peter is more than deserving of this year’s Special Award.”

Peter Western said: “I am delighted to receive the BAFTA Special Award. I must say that I’ve had the pleasure of working as part of some wonderful teams on some great projects – animations really are a team effort. I’d like to dedicate this award to the people I have collaborated with and to those who gave me the opportunities to make my contribution to this industry. I am honoured that BAFTA is recognising my contribution and I look forward to celebrating at the ceremony on 20 November”.

Peter Western biography:

Peter Western graduated from St Martins School of Art in London in 1974. After several years working his way up through various studios, working in freelance and at one point in Hong Kong, Western joined Hibbert Ralph studios, the owners of which he feels played a significant role in his future career. The showreel Western produced while working for Hibbert Ralph led to him becoming the key animator on Disney’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit between 1987 and 1988. Over the course of his subsequent career, Western has played a key role as an animator and storyboard artist in critically acclaimed and award winning films and television programmes. He also contributed to promotional films to introduce the public to the mascots for the London 2012 Olympics, Wenlock and Mandeville. Western lectures at various colleges and continues to educate himself in the arts, having enrolled in life drawing and painting at the Putney School of Art.

The British Academy Children’s Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday 20 November at The Roundhouse, London. For information on tickets, please visit http://www.bafta.org/children/awards/tickets

For further information:

Amanda Hearn at freuds
T 020 3003 6456
E [email protected]

Hephzibah Kwakye-Saka at freuds
T 020 3003 6482
E [email protected]

For accreditation, free photography, BAFTA logos, press releases and more visit www.bafta.org/press

About BAFTA

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is an independent charity that supports, develops and promotes the art forms of the moving image by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public. In addition to its Awards ceremonies, BAFTA has a year-round programme of learning events and initiatives – featuring workshops, masterclasses, scholarships, lectures and mentoring schemes – in the UK, USA and Asia; it offers unique access to the world’s most inspiring talent and connects with a global audience of all ages and backgrounds. BAFTA relies on income from membership subscriptions, individual donations, trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships to support its ongoing outreach work. To access the best creative minds in film, television and games production, visit www.bafta.org/guru. For more, visit www.bafta.org.