About Ethan Toogood
Dedicated to create exceptional retro visuals that captivate clients and audiences alike. Partnering hand in hand with talented teams in developing standout projects.
Right At The Beginning
While most were still figuring things out at 15, I was already deep into game development at college. The coursework gave me a solid foundation, but the real growth came from years of sketching ideas, experimenting with game development tools, and soaking up everything I could at game dev conventions, seminars and meet-ups.
On a friend’s advice, I started taking pixel art commissions on Fiverr while still studying. What began as small character gigs quickly led to my first big milestone, Dragon Mine, a precision platformer featuring my artwork. Watching players take on bosses I had designed was surreal. Seeing my work in action on a real project only fuelled my drive to push further.
Pixel Art Commissions
pushed me to refine my skills, adapt to different styles, and meet tight deadlines a crash course in the realities of the industry. By 17, I had not only earned a degree in Creative Media Production in Games but also built a promising freelance career from the ground up.
Quickly outgrowing my environment, I had to start getting serious. It wasn’t just designing cool characters on the side anymore, I wanted to leave my mark through projects that resonated with my own creative style.
But how do you find these clients? What happens if I’m not paid on time? What even is a contract? These were the questions I had to figure out quickly as the small gigs I had been doing in college grew into real, high-stakes projects.
Ethan Who?
By day I am a game artist specialising as a pixel art artist, and owner of studio 0.01 my indie game studio, By night an illustrator and graphic designer. I specialise in creating visuals with rich narratives.
As a freelance designer in the games and media industry I have more than 5 years of experience spanning unique rolls such as, 3D generalist, 2D artist and animator, marketing manager, graphic and logo designer.
I have designed for games both table top and video, literature, small businesses, and websites. If you need help creating visuals for your games or other projects, you can find out more about my services and pixel art commissions here.
But there is more to the story....
More Than Just A Pixel Art Artist
Today I work full-time as a freelance game artist and illustrator, helping indie devs and creative teams bring their ideas to life. Whether it’s game assets, animations, UI elements, or custom illustrations, I focus on creating art that’s not just eye-catching but immersive, enhancing the narrative and gameplay experience.
If you’re working on a new project and need an expert pixel artist, don't hesitate to reach out and let’s create something fantastic.
The Story Continues
This journey has allowed me the freedom to dive into new creative ventures, launching my first solo game development project, crafting stories and visuals that are entirely my own. On top of that, I’ve expanded into creating artwork for promotional material, album covers, and book covers—challenging myself to tell compelling stories in fresh and diverse ways. This year is about experimentation and embracing the art of storytelling in every form. Whether through a game’s narrative, a vibrant album cover, or the cover of a novel, I’m excited to keep connecting with audiences and leaving my mark across mediums.
Mastering The craft
was the necessary next step, and with the heavy use of YouTube videos, Google, and the real information treasure trove... the friends we made on the way. I taught myself how to be a professional freelance game artist.
Determined to improve creative skills, I enrolled in CGMA courses, learning directly from industry professionals such as Peyton Varney, a senior environment artist. Studying environment design, lighting, and texturing gave me the skills and confidence to take on even bigger projects, from character animations to full game assets, UI design, and more.
Lets Talk About Your Project
I am always excited to discuss projects and answer any of your questions. If you need an expert pixel artist for hire get in touch, and lets start to create something unique!