# UK CG training
Learn 3D, VFX, animation, and motion graphics.
Independent UK reviews of Blender, Maya, Houdini, Unreal Engine, Escape Studios, CGMA, and every serious CG course in 2026. Read before you spend a pound.
01 Independent editorial
02 UK salary + career context
03 Affiliate-disclosed on every review
04 Updated 2026
# careers / environment-artist
How to become an environment artist in the UK.
Environment artist splits into two tracks in the UK: games (Rockstar North, Playground, Creative Assembly, Sumo, Rocksteady) and VFX (Framestore, DNEG, MPC, ILM London, Cinesite). Games hires more junior seats; VFX hires slightly higher salary bands. The core craft is the same: modular kits, texturing, look-dev, storytelling through space. This is the honest UK route in.
# UK salary band
Junior environment artist: £25,000 to £34,000. Mid (3 to 5 yrs): £38,000 to £54,000. Senior (6+ yrs): £54,000 to £78,000. Lead / environment art director: £78,000 to £115,000. Freelance day rate senior: £420 to £620/day.
Three required skills.
- Maya or Blender plus Substance Painter plus Marmoset: the UK environment art stack. Add Unreal for games track, Nuke for VFX track. Read the Substance Painter and Marmoset guides.
- Modular thinking and storytelling: environments are systems, not sculptures. Modular tileable kits, believable wear patterns, deliberate composition telling a story. Rockstar and Framestore both test for this at portfolio review.
- A 3-piece portfolio: one modular hero prop set, one small full environment (interior or exterior), one texture-and-material breakdown. Marmoset renders for games, Nuke or Katana beauty renders for VFX.
Typical 3-year progression.
- Year 1: junior environment artist at Rockstar North, Playground, Creative Assembly, Sumo (games) or Framestore, DNEG, MPC, Cinesite (VFX). Salary £25,000 to £34,000.
- Year 2: 1 to 2 shipped titles or 2 to 3 feature credits. Confident with modular workflows and Substance authoring. Salary £33,000 to £44,000, freelance £320/day.
- Year 3: mid environment artist with lead-area responsibility (a level, a sequence, a hero environment). Salary £42,000 to £56,000, freelance £400 to £550/day.