William captivated attendees with a meandering narrative of his journey through the creative industries. From his humble beginnings, he recounted tales from his pivotal roles in iconic comic book series (Warrior, Transformers, 2000AD, Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, and Batman), to feature films (Reign of Fire, Breakfast on Pluto, City of Ember, Morgan, and The Menu), and his concept art and storyboarding on the TV hit series, Game of Thrones.

William shared invaluable wisdom garnered from decades of experience. His anecdotes resonated with aspiring artists and animators, offering practical advice and encouragement for navigating the competitive landscape of creative professions. Students were enthralled as William delved into the intricacies of scriptwriting, doodling, and visual storytelling, emphasizing the importance of dedication, perseverance, tilt, and “more than the odd bit of luck!” His expertise shed light on industry trends and emerging technologies, but more especially on the old reliable – pencil and paper – inspiring the next generation of artists to push boundaries and explore new frontiers in animation, gaming, and film.

"We were honoured to host William Simpson at DkIT," said Michael Connolly, lecturer in DkIT. "His wealth of knowledge and passion for the craft will leave a lasting impact on our students, empowering them to pursue their artistic aspirations with renewed vigour",

DkIT is dedicated to providing exceptional learning experiences and fostering creativity and excellence in various fields, including animation, gaming, and extended reality.

For those interested in exploring opportunities in animation and digital arts at DkIT, Michael Connolly and Jackie Toal, Programme Directors on the aforementioned, can be contacted at michael.connolly@dkit.ie or jacqueline.toal@dkit.ie