"I’m Co-Director of Dreaming Methods, a creative XR studio based at The Art House in Wakefield. We specialise in immersive storytelling, blending film, games, creative writing and technology to create powerful digital experiences."

"Dreaming Methods was founded by writer and digital artist Andy Campbell in the early 1990s, producing video games and digital fiction. For over twenty years, it became part of the arts charity One to One Development Trust, where both Andy and I met and continue to work. In 2022, we set Dreaming Methods up as an independent studio to give it the space to grow in its own right."

"We produce our own original projects, work with universities, and develop creative partnerships with other artists and arts organisations. This autonomy gives us the flexibility to explore creative and technical innovation more freely, taking risks, developing original IP, and collaborating internationally, while staying true to our values around storytelling and social purpose." 

"We’re passionate about pushing the boundaries of narrative, encouraging literacy, and helping audiences see technology as a space for creativity, empathy and connection."

"Wakefield and its surrounding district are full of unique communities that each have their own history, character and sense of pride. That diversity gives the area a real creative energy and a strong sense of identity."

"Our shared Dreaming Methods journey began at the now long gone Glasshoughton Cultural Industries Centre where Andy and I first met in 2000 and discovered our mutual passion for storytelling, technology and community. It was a place and time that encouraged experimentation and collaboration, and that spirit has stayed with us ever since."

"We have both worked in Wakefield area all our professional lives and have seen many changes to the district in this time. Wakefield is possibly at it most creatively rich in all the time we’ve been here. We love The Art House where we are based and new initiatives like WX (the old market hall) provide great exhibition and performance space. There is a robust DIY culture and many creatives doing excellent work which add to the vibrancy.  As an alumnus of Bretton Hall College, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park is still one of my favourite cultural destinations."

"Wakefield is a city and district that’s growing more confident in its cultural voice, and we’re proud to be part of that."

"One of our recent highlights is The Abandoned Library – a VR experience that explores themes of climate change, displacement and artificial intelligence through an atmospheric, story-led world. We brought together a fantastic team of artists to work on it including supporting young talent and four paid internships. The project premiered here in Wakefield at the Art House before being shown internationally, attracting interest from festivals, academics and immersive media organisations. We’re continuing to develop The Abandoned Library further, with the ambition to evolve it into a full game experience."

"Another major project for us is Inanimate Alice, a long-term collaboration with our partner in Canada. It’s a groundbreaking work of digital fiction that became the first of its kind to be included on the English Literature curriculum in schools across the US and Canada. Seeing how teachers and students have embraced it as a way of engaging with both literacy and technology has been incredibly rewarding."

"We also created Wallpaper, an interactive narrative about family, memory and digital identity. It explored how personal histories can be preserved or distorted through technology. Wallpaper has been hugely influential on our current practice, informing new work that continues to blend storytelling, emotion and interactivity in unexpected ways."

"Each of these projects has challenged us to think differently about how stories can connect people emotionally, culturally and technologically."

"We’re continuing to develop The Abandoned Library, building on its success and exploring new ways for audiences to experience it."

"We’re also developing two new projects; one is a follow up from Wallpaper, expanding its themes of memory, technology and identity, and another that reimagines a 1990s video game Andy created for the Commodore Amiga, which was a cult success at the time and which we can see really working well with contemporary audiences."

"As a studio, we also take on work-for-hire projects, which keeps things fresh and unpredictable as you never quite know what creative challenge or collaboration might come next. That’s part of what makes this work so exciting."

If you'd like to find out more about Dreaming Methods and the fantastic work that they do, please visit their website here: Dreaming Methods - Immersive and compelling narrative-driven experiences through digital art, VR and games