Regional Only | Lighting and Compositing Artist - Experienced

Blue Zoo Productions; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading animation studio in the UK is seeking a Lighting and Compositing Artist to create stunning visual narratives. Responsibilities include lighting scenes using Maya and compositing with Nuke while managing deadlines and collaborating with a skilled team. Ideal candidates will have a strong understanding of atmospheric lighting and possess effective problem-solving skills. Flexible working arrangements are available.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Comprehensive benefits package

Profit share

Inclusive social events

Wellbeing programme

Qualifications

• Must have skills in atmospheric lighting and colour grading.
• Experience with Nuke for compositing.
• Positive attitude and eagerness to develop skills.

Responsibilities

• Create lighting scenes in Maya and composite in Nuke.
• Manage time effectively to meet deadlines.
• Collaborate with team members and provide mentorship.

Skills

Knowledge of atmospheric lighting

Knowledge of Nuke software

Creative problem solving skills

Reliability and independence

Ability to receive feedback

Tools

Maya

Nuke

Python scripting

After Effects

FTrack

Job description

Our Lighting and Compositing Artists are wonderful visual storytellers. They define the mood and atmosphere of our narratives, and highlight the charming details of our characters, props and environments.

Your day-to-day will focus on creating the lighting of our episodes, finessing the colours in compositing, whilst always maintaining the right balance between the highest quality and meeting deadlines.

We are very happy to discuss flexible, hybrid and remote working options for all our vacancies. Please note, this opportunity is due to start late February 2026 and that this vacancy can close early if we receive a high number of applications.

The successful candidates will need to be based in the UK and will require the right to work in the UK.

Ideally, the successful candidate will be within a commutable distance to our Brighton Zoo studio, though this is not essential.

Day to Day

• Creating lighting scenes in Maya with assets from the animation and effects departments and then compositing these rendered shots in Nuke to create the final shot.
• Tweaking provided light rigs, render set-ups and compositing templates to achieve the required look of your shot.
• Tweaking render settings to optimise the efficiency of your renders.
• Monitoring your renders to ensure they are within a given render time budget.
• Working as part of a team of lighting and compositing artists, and regularly communicating with your Team Lead and the Post Production Supervisor.
• Managing your time efficiently to meet the deadlines of your assigned shots.
• Problem solving to fix errors and glitches and addressing notes efficiently.
• Covering for the Team Lead if they are off.
• Expected to take on the more challenging and technical shots.
• Helping the Team Lead by providing support and mentorship to the more junior members of the team, whilst developing your management skills.

About You

Must Have

• Knowledge of atmospheric lighting, colour grading and denoising render.
• Knowledge of Nuke software as a tool to composite render layers.
• Ability to take receive feedback and respond well to direction.
• Positive attitude and an eagerness to develop your skillset whilst learning from your team members.
• Enjoy being part of a team and a great collaborator.
• Creative problem solving skills.
• Reliable with the ability to work independently.
• Problem solving skills to find the best approach to meeting the brief as well as troubleshooting issues and asking questions if unsure.

Bonus Points

• Knowledge of Python scripting.
• Knowledge of After Effects.
• Experience using FTrack.
• Knowledge of shading.
• Understanding of a 3D production pipeline.

About Us

Blue Zoo is a leading animation studio in the UK, with a world-class reputation as the go‑to place for creating bold, fun and characterful animation. Established in London in 2000, the studio has grown to become the largest dedicated CG animation studio in the UK, picking up a shelf full of BAFTAs, an Annie and an Emmy along the way!

We couldn’t be prouder that Blue Zoo is the first major animation studio in the world to receive B Corp certification. We’ve been independently certified by B Lab, a non‑profit organisation who award the B Corp certification. The certification verifies companies who are working to improve the lives of employees as well as industries as a whole. The certification process involves over 170 rigorous metrics to improve the lives of our staff, customers, suppliers, and the local community, ensuring we are not just saying we are ethical with empty gestures, but independently evidencing it.

We are going through an exciting period of growth and are building a studio that is full of amazingly talented, happy artists, making work they are proud of, which in turn makes a small contribution to a happier world. Blue Zoo believes that a healthy balance in our lives - whatever our situation - is key to supporting the wellbeing of our staff. We offer flexible working to support this.

We look for people who have expertise, enthusiasm and are motivated to make things better. You’ll work alongside a talented and diverse group of people who respect each other’s differences and seek to understand and embrace fresh perspectives.

What we’ve got for you:

• Winner of Broadcast Best Places to Work in TV 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024 & 2025.
• Inclusive self‑funded shorts programme.
• Many fun in person and remote social events throughout the year.
• Bi‑monthly employee feedback and engagement programme.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including loads of discounts and offers.
• Online wellbeing programme.
• Profit share (for employees who have been with us for 2+ years).

Blue Zoo is committed to creating and nurturing an inclusive studio that promotes and values diversity and invites everyone to ‘bring their whole selves’ to work. We believe that companies that truly embrace and value diversity, and create an environment where everyone from any background can do their best work, are better companies.

To be engaged our people have to feel included and valued. We work hard to build and nurture a culture where inclusiveness is embedded in the way we work, not just an initiative. We strive to engender a studio community that feels a deep sense of pride and commitment that transcends any role, department or level and works together to produce excellent and engaging work.