Lead Concept Artist - RuneScape Dragonwilds

2K; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading video game company is seeking a Lead Concept Artist for their upcoming title in a renowned IP universe. This critical role involves shaping the visual style for a new game while collaborating closely with various leads and guiding a team of artists. With strong leadership skills and a passion for visual storytelling, you will have the opportunity to impact the player experience significantly.

Benefits

Private Healthcare, including Dental Plan

Minimum 6% Pension contributions

Employee Assistance Programme & onsite Counselling

Discretionary annual performance bonus

Flexible working hours

25 days annual leave

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a concept artist in the games industry with a strong portfolio.
• Experience leading a team of concept artists.
• Ability to adapt to various styles for gameplay needs.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Art Director to develop the visual style of the project.
• Lead and mentor a team of concept artists.
• Create high-quality concepts for characters, environments, and props.

Skills

Visual storytelling

Team leadership

Composition

Colour theory

Communication

Tools

Photoshop

Blender

Job description

Location: Cambridge, UK – (Remote available within the UK with team onsite days in the Cambridge office approx. 4 times per year)

Are you a passionate and visionary Lead Concept Artist ready to shape the visual identity of a brand-new game in a beloved IP universe?

As a Lead Concept Artist on RuneScape: Dragonwilds, our new open world survival crafting game currently in early access and developed in UE5, you will play a key role in defining the cohesive visual language of the game across all concept art output.

Working closely with Art Directors, Principals, and Design leads, you will help set the tone and style of the world. You and your team will be responsible for visualizing game assets, environments, characters, props, and speculative ideas at the highest quality, consistently aligned to the project’s art direction.

This is a vital and highly collaborative role where your ability to lead, guide, and inspire a team of concept artists will have a tangible impact on the player experience and the visual storytelling of the game.

What you’ll be doing:

• Collaborate closely with the Art Director to develop and maintain the visual style of the project.
• Create high-quality concepts for characters, environments, props, creatures, and key art.
• Build, lead, and mentor a team of concept artists, supporting their development and helping them grow their craft.
• Maintain the highest standards of visual quality across all concept work.
• Balance task delivery with leadership responsibilities, actively contributing to the team’s output.
• Plan and schedule concept art workstreams, coordinating with production and external partners as needed.
• Guide the recruitment and development of the concept team in collaboration with art leadership.
• Cultivate a healthy, supportive, and high-performing art culture that nurtures creativity.
• Share best practices and facilitate regular reviews and feedback sessions to ensure visual consistency and team alignment.
• Work closely with other disciplines to ensure visual concepts align with gameplay and technical requirements.
• Document style guides, creative briefs, and specifications for both internal teams and outsourcing vendors.
• Stay current with tools, pipelines, and artistic techniques to enhance team productivity.

What we’re looking for:

• Proven experience as a concept artist in the games industry, with a strong portfolio showcasing a wide range of high-quality visual development work.
• Experience leading a team of concept artists and maintaining artistic quality across multiple deliverables.
• Strong understanding of visual storytelling, composition, colour theory, and design fundamentals.
• Demonstrable ability to adapt and create artwork in a variety of styles to suit gameplay and narrative needs.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, able to clearly articulate feedback and artistic goals to artists and non-artists alike.
• Comfortable working in a with outsource vendors and managing external asset quality.
• Proficient with industry-standard digital art tools (e.g., Photoshop, Blender, etc.).

What we offer:

When you join Jagex you can look forward to a generous Perks & Benefits package including:

• Private Healthcare, including Dental Plan.

• Minimum 6% Pension contributions.
• Employee Assistance Programme & onsite Counselling.
• Life Insurance.
• Discretionary annual performance bonus.
• Enhanced family leave policies from day 1.
• Flexible working hours.
• 25 days annual leave + Bank holidays & the option to buy/sell holidays + so much more!

About Jagex:

Jagex is a leader in developing and publishing deep, engaging online games that connect millions of players worldwide. Best known for the RuneScape franchise, which includes two of the world’s longest running and most successful MMORPGs, in Old School Runescape and Runescape, and the open-world survival crafting game, Runescape: Dragonwilds; we have proven success in delivering immersive Forever Games and fostering strong player communities.

We strive to foster an inclusive workplace built on trust, autonomy, and a shared passion for creating forever games.
Our values guide everything we do: We Embrace Fellowship by collaborating and sharing openly. We Hone our Craft by always learning and improving; we Honour our Vows by being honest and transparent; we are our Customers’ Heroes by striving to understand our team & player needs, and we Seize The Day by making the most of every opportunity.

With over two decades of experience, and over 400 people in our team, we continue to innovate in live game development, leveraging data-driven insights, and a commitment to player-first game design. We have a diverse and talented team where creativity, collaboration, and community-driven game development drives everything we do.

As part of Jagex, you’ll have the opportunity to work on a globally successful franchise, contribute to exciting new projects, and be part of a company that hugely values both our employees and our players.