Lead Environment Artist

Mystery start up is seeking a Lead Environment Artist in Sunderland, UK, to shape a new game studio focused on player-centric game development. The role involves creating high-quality environment art in Unreal Engine 5, mentoring artists, and collaborating with the team on visual storytelling. Candidates must have significant experience in game development, including leading projects and a strong portfolio. This position is in-house/hybrid and requires eligibility to work in the UK.
Lead Environment Artist

MUST BE ELIGIBLE TO WORK IN THE UK, ROLE IS IN-HOUSE/HYBRID, NO OUTSOURCE STUDIOS

We’re looking for an experienced Lead Environment Artist to join a new game studio founded by industry veterans. This is a rare opportunity to help shape a new team from the ground up in a collaborative, creatively driven environment.

Our studio was founded on the belief that the corporate games industry has lost sight of what matters: making games that put the player first. We’re building a team of passionate developers who want to get back to what makes game development exciting.

The Role

As Lead Environment Artist, you’ll play a pivotal role in defining and producing world-class environments. You’ll help establish the artistic vision, build out the pipeline, and mentor a talented team of artists. You’ll work closely with the Art Director, game designers, and programmers to create compelling, visually rich game worlds using Unreal Engine 5.

Key Responsibilities

· Create a wide range of high-quality environment art assets in Unreal Engine 5

· Develop and maintain the environment art pipeline, including workflows and tools

· Collaborate with the Art Director on visual storytelling and world-building

· Design environments in a variety of styles, with strong attention to composition, lighting, and detail

· Define and implement best practices for lighting and scene composition in UE5

· Work with production to create realistic art scope and schedules

· Foster strong communication between art, design, and code teams

· Offer input on tool development and pipeline improvements

· Mentor and guide junior and mid-level artists; review and provide feedback on their work

· Recruit, train, and manage the environment art team

· Help shape the culture and identity of a new and growing studio

Required Skills & Experience

· Proven experience creating AA or AAA-level environment art for games and/or film

· At least 5 years of experience in game development, including 1 shipped title using Unreal Engine 5

· Experience leading teams or projects, including team-building and pipeline setup

· Strong understanding of architectural design, including spatial proportions and various architectural styles

· Familiarity with mechanical and industrial design principles for fictional environments, vehicles, or machinery

· Excellent time management skills; ability to prioritize, multitask, and meet deadlines

· Strong communication and collaboration skills; a team-first mindset

· A portfolio that demonstrates industry-standard environmental art

Bonus Skills

· Experience with character, vehicle, or VFX creation in Unreal Engine

· Traditional concept art skills

· Basic animation knowledge

Education

· Professional art training is desirable but not essential

· What matters most is a strong portfolio and practical experience

What We're Looking For

We’re after more than just technical skill—we’re building a team of passionate, grounded, and collaborative developers. You should bring energy, creativity, and a willingness to mentor others. We value confidence without arrogance, and we’re serious about creating a healthy work-life balance for everyone.

Join us in creating something special from the ground up.

While we offer Hybrid working, the role is based in Newcastle/Gateshead and the candidate needs to be able to work at least 3 days a week in the studio with the rest of the team.



Salary: GBP 42000 - 84000 per year

Experience: 5 years required