About & CV
Rufus Martin is a British production designer, art director and set designer working across film, television, opera, commercials and live events.
Raised in Dorset, Rufus first became interested in production design through the behind-the-scenes films documenting the making of The Lord of the Rings. After gaining practical experience constructing festivals and events, he began working with designer Michael Howells across fashion shoots, television productions and large-scale installations. He later studied Set Design for Screen at Wimbledon College of Arts, graduating with First Class Honours in 2017 and receiving the college’s award for Best Art Direction.
Over more than a decade, Rufus has developed a broad practice encompassing historical reconstruction, factual television, large-scale entertainment, scripted productions and opera. He has worked across both the British and American editions of the BAFTA and Emmy-winning The Traitors, progressing from concept artist to art director under production designer Mathieu Weekes. As part of its production-design team, he contributed to work recognised with Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards for Production Design.
His other recent credits include Squid Game: The Challenge, Royal Autopsy and numerous productions for Dorset Opera. He was production designer on the Emmy-nominated documentary In the Cold Dark Night and also worked within the BAFTA-winning creative department of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
Based between Dorset and London, Rufus combines visual storytelling with practical experience in drawing, digital modelling, construction, prop sourcing and set dressing.
Rufus is also an award-winning portrait sculptor. Member of the Society of Portrait Sculptors and recipient of Queen Elizabeth Trust grant funding. His work has been on show in many galleries and shows, notably Bowman Sculpture of St James Park, the RBA Rising Stars show, The Face22, 23 and 24 and the Chelsea Arts Club. This work can be seen here: rufusmartin.co.uk
Photo by Catherine Falls
Curriculum Vitae
Skills
High level • computer rendering • classical design • SketchUp pro • idea generation • Moderate • technical drawing • concept design • storyboarding • metal work (MIG) • woodwork • white card modelling • research • surveying locations • set dressing • prop making • costume design • Low level • simple illustration • calligraphy • metal work (TIG) • Personal attributes • team co-ordination • good listener • creative • problem solver • keeping to deadlines • good artistic ‘eye’ • handling valuable/heavy/fragile furniture and props • very good people skills • takes initiative • driving licence • common sense • reliable
Education
1st Class Hons from Wimbledon College of Art: Set Design for Screen (2014 – 2017) | Award for Best Art Direction
Bryanston School (2008 – 2013) • Rowing 1st VIII • Rugby 1st XV
A-levels: 3D Art: A* • Philosophy: B • Design and Technology: A*
10 GCSEs: 3 A*, 3 A, 3 B, 1 C, including English and Maths.
Employment History
2025 - Set Designer - Dorset Opera - Sour Angelica
2025 - Art Director - Traitors - Tv Show - BBC
2025 - Set Designer - Dorset Opera - Rigoletto
2025 - Art Director - Squid Game: The Challenge - Netflix
2025 - Set Designer - Dorset Opera - Cavalleria Rusticana
2024 - Art Director - Traitors - Tv Show - BBC
2024 - Set Designer - Sandringham TV Show Channel 5
2024 - Set Designer - Dorset Opera - Madama Butterfly
2024 - Set Designer - Dorset Opera - Under The Greenwood Tree
2024 - Set Designer - Buckingham TV Show Channel 5
2023 - Concept artist -TBC
2023 - Production Designer - Royal Autopsy ep3-6 - Tv Show -
2023 - Art Director - Traitors - Tv Show - BBC
2023 - Set Designer - Dorset Opera - Le nozze di Figaro
2023 - Set Designer - Dorset Opera -Le Roi De Lahore
2022 - 2023 Supervising Art Director - Squid Games - Netflix
2022 - Set Designer - Dreaming Whilst Black - Netflix
2022 - Production Designer - Great Stink - Tv Show - Channel 5
2022 - Production Designer - Royal Autopsy - Tv Show - Sky
2022 - Art Director - Traitors - Tv Show - BBC
2022 - Art Director - Wim Hof - Tv Show - BBC2
2021 - Set Designer - Sneakerhead - Tv Show - Emmy Nominated
2021 - Production Design - Crack’d - Commercial
2021 - Assistant Designer - Titanic - Opera
2021 - Assistant Designer - Ariadne - Opera
2021 - Art Director - Dance Monsters - Tv Show - Netflix
2021 - Production Designer - Mystic Magic - Fashion Film
2021 - Production Designer - Giant Leap - Commercial
2021 - Production Designer - ‘BARDO’ - Short film
2021 - Draftsman - ‘Loki’ - Marvel - Tv Show
2021 - Production Design - ‘The Great Escape’ - Documentary - Tv Show - Channel 5
2020 - Set Designer - Adidas - Commercial
2020 - Set Designer - Working Tomorrow - Documentary - Kaspersky
2020 - Production Designer - Don’t Judge - Luke Pritchard - Music Video
2020 - Set Designer - Bondi Sands - Frames Up
2020 - Set Designer - 60's/70's - The Edge Picture Co
2020 - Set Designer - Folding office - BT - The Edge Picture Co
2020 - Set Designer - 2012 Olympics Hacking - Documentary - Kaspersky
2020 - Art Director - I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! - TV Show - iTV- BAFTA Winning Creative Team
2020 - Assistant Art Director - Dance Monsters - Netflix*
2020 - Art Director ‘HSBC’ - Internal Info Video*
2020 - Production Designer ‘Brink’ - Feathers of Daedalus - Circus
2020 - Production Designer - The Great Plague - Tv Show - Channel 5
2019 - 2020 - Production Designer ‘Sky in the Pie’ - Feathers of Daedalus - Circus
2019 - Production Designer - ‘Hellfighters’ - Documentary - Netflix Pitch
2019 - Designer ‘Field Of Ponies’ - Shop Interior
2019 - Designer 3D ‘Solitary’ - Si fi Feature
2019 - Art Director ‘winter’ Frescoed shop window for Turnbull and Asser
2019 - Production Designer ‘Finding Harmony by The Kings Singers’ - 3 Music Videos
2019 - Production Designer ’12 Days Of Tudor Christmas with Lucy Worsley’ - TV Show - BBC 2
2019 - Set Designer ‘The Heist’ - Immersive Rave
2019 - Assistant Art Director ‘Love Island 6’ - TV Series - iTV
2019 - Assistant Art Director ‘After Sun’ - Live TV Show
2019 - Designer 3D ‘Audible’ - Advert - Audible Amazon
2019 - Production Designer ‘Howl and Hum by Hall of Fame’- Music Video
2019 - Assistant Art Director ‘KASHET’ - TV Series
2019 - Assistant Art Director ‘Single Town’ - TV Series
2019 - Assistant Art Director ‘Ryder Cup’ - Opening Ceremony
2019 - Assistant Art Director ‘Love Island 5’ - TV Series
2019 - Assistant Art Director ‘Untitled’ - TV Series
2018 - Production Designer ‘In The Cold Dark Night’ - TV Series - Emmy Nominated
2018 - Production Designer ‘The Secret Marriage’ - Opera
2018 - Production Designer ‘Cleanipedia’ - Photoshoot
2018 - Assistant Art Director Alan Carr Show - TV Series (Conceptual)
2018 - Assistant Art Director ‘Survival of the Fittest’ - TV series
2018 - Assistant Art Director 'Ex On The Beach’ - TV Series
2018 - Production Designer ‘Cleanipedia’ - 8 Commercials
2018 - Designer ‘Florid’ - Private Party
2018 - Production Designer ‘Simby’ - Commercial
2018 - Assistant Art Director for 'Love Island 4' - TV series
2018 - Production Designer for ‘I’ve Been Blind by The Fratellis’ - Music Video
2017-2018 Assistant Art Director for 'Survival of the Fittest', - TV Series
2017 - Production Designer for 'What Would Harold Pinter Think' - Theatrical Piece
2017 - Assistant Art Director for 4 Films By LAMDA - Short Films
2017 - Production Designer for 'Tis Pity She's Not Yours' - Short Film
2016 - Set designer for Mini Boden’s Roald Dahl Campaign - Photoshoot
2014 - Art Director for ‘Suit Yourself’ photoshoot with Mark LeBon and Adwoa Aboah - Photoshoot
Assistant to Michael Howells
2016 - Victoria - TV Series
2015 - Port Eliot - Festival
2014 - Mulberry, Cara Delevingne Bag Release - Launch Event
2014 - Vogue Italia with Mario Testino - Photo Shoot
2014 - Vogue Japan with Mario Testino - Photo Shoot
2014 - Miles Aldridge - Photo Shoot
2014 - Large Scale Private Party
2014 - Elephant in the room - Fundraising event
2014 - Port Eliot - Festival
2013 - ‘The Game’ - BBC drama
2013 - Port Eliot - Festival
2013 - Port Eliot festival construction
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• References are available upon request •