Lead Concept Artist - Game Development

Placements24; Kimberley; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits package

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Placements24 is recruiting a Lead Concept Artist for a dynamic game development studio in Kimberley, Canada. The role leads a team, shapes the visual direction, and produces concept art for characters, environments, props and vehicles.

You will create mood boards, style guides, and ensure concepts translate into production-ready assets, while mentoring artists and contributing to cutting-edge game visuals.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years in concept art for games with 3+ years in lead/senior roles.
• Strong portfolio across characters, environments and props.
• Proficiency in digital painting tools such as Photoshop or Procreate.
• Solid fundamentals in anatomy, perspective, color, lighting and composition.
• Experience leading an art team and presenting to stakeholders.
• Familiarity with game pipelines and tools (Unity/Unreal) is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Illustration, or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of concept artists and guide artistic direction.
• Define visual style and maintain aesthetic across projects.
• Create high quality concepts for characters, environments, props, vehicles.
• Develop mood boards, style guides, and call-out sheets.
• Collaborate with designers, art directors, and 3D artists to ensure asset coherence.
• Provide constructive feedback and oversee the concept art pipeline.
• Stay updated on industry trends and new art styles.

Skills

Concept art

Character design

Environment design

Prop design

Digital painting

Adobe Photoshop

Procreate

Art fundamentals

Color theory

Composition

Lighting

Team leadership

Communication

Unity

Unreal Engine

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts/Illustration

Tools

Adobe Photoshop

Procreate

Unity

Unreal Engine

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic and innovative game development studio in Kimberley, is looking for an experienced and visionary Lead Concept Artist to spearhead the visual development of their exciting new projects. This hybrid role requires a passion for creating imaginative worlds, characters, and environments that define the aesthetic of our games. You will lead a team of talented concept artists, guiding the artistic direction from initial ideation through to production-ready assets. The ideal candidate possesses a strong portfolio showcasing a diverse range of artistic styles, exceptional drawing and painting skills, and a deep understanding of art fundamentals, including composition, color theory, and form. Join us in the Northern Cape to bring captivating visual narratives to life.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of concept artists, fostering a collaborative and creative environment.
• Define and maintain the overall visual style and aesthetic for game projects.
• Create high-quality concept art for characters, environments, props, and vehicles.
• Develop detailed visual development documentation, including mood boards, style guides, and call-out sheets.
• Collaborate closely with game designers, art directors, and 3D artists to ensure concepts translate effectively into the game engine.
• Provide clear and constructive feedback to the concept art team and other art disciplines.
• Oversee the concept art pipeline, ensuring efficient workflow and timely delivery of assets.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging art styles in game development.
• Present concept art and visual development progress to stakeholders.
• Troubleshoot artistic challenges and propose creative solutions.

Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in concept art for the game industry, with at least 3 years in a lead or senior role.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional skill in character, environment, and prop design across various genres.
• Proficiency in digital painting software such as Adobe Photoshop, Procreate, or similar.
• Solid understanding of art fundamentals, including anatomy, perspective, color theory, lighting, and composition.
• Experience leading and managing a team of artists.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to adapt to different artistic styles and project requirements.
• Familiarity with game development pipelines and tools (e.g., Unity, Unreal Engine) is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Illustration, or a related field is preferred.
• Must be based in or willing to relocate to Kimberley, Northern Cape, with the ability to work on-site regularly.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, commensurate with experience.
• You will have the opportunity to shape the visual identity of exciting new game titles and work within a creative and supportive studio culture.
• Professional development opportunities and exposure to cutting-edge game development technologies are provided.
• This hybrid role offers a balance between collaborative studio time and focused creative work.