Arts-Focused Freelance
Creative Technologist

Ben Neal

A creative tech collaborator who turns artistic ideas into interactive software, immersive experiences, responsive environments, and cutting edge media.

Spanning XR, games, web, mobile, sound, video, physical computing and bespoke software - from early prototyping to exhibition ready work.

It usually starts with a question...

"Can we create a virtual
me?"
gallery?"
wolf?"
"What if we digitised
my artwork?"
someone?"
this experience?"
"Can we travel through
time?"
a city?"
a body?"
"Could we embed tech in this
room?"
sculpture?"
bear suit?"
"Can I control it with
my eyes?"
gestures?"
a saxophone?"
"Could it respond to people's
touch?"
breath?"
dancing?"
"What if it felt like you were
underwater?"
empowered?"
gigantic?"
"Can the audience trigger
lights?"
sounds?"
ghosts?"
"Can we use tech to
swap our voices?"
make robots chat?"
monitor oil prices?"
"What if the aim was to
stay happy?"
explore data?"
make friends?"
"Could we play this
online?"
as a group?"
in a forest?"

and then...

inspiration ideas possibility a plan

Bring artworks to life


with unique software & prototypes

Keeping your ideas central, let's explore what's possible, and find out what works.

Research and develop, play and test, and build towards public sharing.

You might have...

  • An idea
  • A narrative
  • A performance
  • An unformed thought
  • An artwork
  • A research question
  • Images / sound
  • An object

You could make...

  • Software Interactive software and games.
  • Apps for the web and mobile.
  • Physical computing sensors with buttons and lights.
  • XR Projects for VR headsets and AR tablets.
  • Motion Tracking pose detection, facial recognition.

Selected works

Bioreme
University of NottinghamVisit Website
  • University of Nottingham-Bioreme-0
  • University of Nottingham-Bioreme-1
  • University of Nottingham-Bioreme-2
  • University of Nottingham-Bioreme-3
  • University of Nottingham-Bioreme-4

Breath-powered VR experience

Working with scientists and researchers from the University of Nottingham and Manchester, I created this promotional VR game in which you travel through the lungs and learn about respiratory medicine while treating a patient. During the game, players hold virtual devices to their mouths and physically blow into them - to propel medicinal aerosols to clear blocked airways and relax the muscle walls. Motion capture animation and voice acting were both recorded along with sound effects.

Funded by the EPSRC and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centres (BRC) at Manchester, Nottingham, Exeter and Imperial.

Can You See Me Now?
Blast TheoryVisit Website
  • Blast Theory-Can You See Me Now-0
  • Blast Theory-Can You See Me Now-1
  • Blast Theory-Can You See Me Now-2
  • Blast Theory-Can You See Me Now-3
  • Blast Theory-Can You See Me Now-4

Multiplayer Mixed Reality chase game

Can You See Me Now? is a pioneering Mixed Reality artwork and game of chase. Online players are tracked and chased by real people who run around a city using a mobile app. Online players can see the position of the real players as their avatars move (tracked via GPS). Runners live stream audio commentary as they play, while online players can message each other to strategise their escape. It was created with Blast Theory and co-programmer John Sear in Unity for iOS and Android phones - complete with avatars, geolocated buildings, GPS tracking, and a multiplayer system with voice and text chat. Admin can manage sessions, players, and live stream the game.

Android and iOS Download Played at the Blast Theory Kickstarter event, and the ACCA, Brighton.

Created with

artists, organisations, universities and festivals across arts and culture.

Blast Theory Juneau Projects Sian Fan Swoomptheeng BOM Abandon Normal Devices Midlands Arts Center SteamHouse Animate Projects Studio Mayne McGregor Virtual and Immersive Production Studio Near Now Stryx Ludic Rooms MotionHouse Outside Studios IJAD Hervisions
Arts Council England British Council The Space Open Data Institute Seomerset House Ikon Gallery V & A Warwick Arts Center Eastside Projects Dazed Pervasive Media Studio City of Culture Maker Monday
University of Birmingham University of Nottingham Coventry University De Montfort University Greenwich University Loughborough University Oxford University Press Birmingham City University SXSW Sonar Supersonic Fierce Aesthetica Encounters Flatpack Festival Now Play This London Design Festival FIVARS

Creative together

  • “one of the most gifted polymath creatives I've had the pleasure of working with...
    if you get the opportunity to work with him, take it.”
    - Ceri Hand, Artist Mentor
  • “Ben combines creativity and technical proficiency... to get the best out of any idea.”
    - Baff Akoto, Artist
  • “Extremely professional to work with, he made the complexities of technology clearly understandable.”
    - Chris Poolman, Artist
  • “I'm consistently amazed by Ben's breadth of knowledge and knack for finding creative solutions.”
    - Edie Jo Murray, Artist
  • “His combination of artistic and technical skills are unique.”
    - John Sear, Real-World Game Designer (Museum Games)
  • “A fantastic collaborator. I recommend him highly.”
    - Kerryn Wise, Digital Dance Artist
  • “no matter how far it pushes the imagination - Ben can make it happen”
    - Harmeet Chagger-Khan, Arts Producer
  • “responsive and generous with his skills and ideas. He's always keen to innovate and push the limits”
    - Sarah Martindale (University of Nottingham)
  • “always at the cutting edge of technology, education and arts practice”
    - Andrew Pearsall (Birmingham City University)

Consultancy, Talks, Workshops & Mentoring

Ben often shares his practice through talks, presentations, workshops, consultancy and mentoring.

Studio Practice

Ben co-runs Displace Studio with digital dance artist Kerryn Wise.

Their best known work is a VR experience called Facades, which has toured internationally.

He's currently Associate Artist at the Virtual and Immersive Production Studio at the University of Nottingham.

GET IN TOUCH

If you have a project idea, and want to see what it could become, send a quick message.

If you are in the early stages of writing a funding bid - let's chat.

A few lines is enough - just say what you're working on.

  • info@psiconlab.co.uk
  • 07926 920 282