Crucially, everyone in the company has an absolute passion for imagery and our team brings a creative and valuable mix of expertise to each image: from our core image creation skills (see our Services section) right through to architecture, fine art, illustration, photography, graphic design, sculpture, body casting and more.
This universal awareness of the finest aesthetics makes a big difference to what we do. Whoever you speak to here understands the impact imagery has on the way people view brands. After all, we’re not just part of the team at Saddington Baynes- we’re all consumers too. This ensures that we’re constantly aware of what it takes to make an image that has real emotional impact; and it keeps us to the perfecting standard of quality that has become our hallmark.
At the helm are Chris and James who, as award-winning retouchers in their own right, have helped to define and refine the way we approach image creation.
Inspired by the storytelling and visual narrative of comic books and graphic novels, Chris was inspired to start drawing when he was just 5 years old. Batman has always been a particular source of visual inspiration for him, with some of his favourite artists gracing its pages. He has always admired the versatility and enduring appeal of the character, and the symbolism of a man choosing to fight crime as a bat.
Chris was snapped up by Chas Saddington and Dick Baynes to spearhead Retouching in the early days after cutting his teeth on Graphic Paintbox, the first truly creative digital retouching system. As an Art & Design graduate with a trained photographic eye, he has gone on to define the creative and technical blueprint that is our calling card. Chris has led Saddington Baynes since 1999, driving our industry-pioneering role in both Creative and Automotive CGI and helping us win many awards along the way.
Connect with Chris at linkedin.com/in/christakischristodoulou or if you have the Instagram app, follow him on @chrisdoulou
James is a keen researcher and student of image theory, with an ongoing study of the emotional effects of varying aesthetics and a fascination with the technicality of image and colour composition. His reputation is as a photographic colour grader and retoucher extraordinaire and he has worked with many world-class photographers to define and evolve their styles.
James joined Saddington Baynes in ’98 as an enthusiastic young retoucher, and has become ever more enthusiastic since about the finer arts of Colour Theory, Grading and Retouching. A partner in the business since 2004, he keeps our imagery amazing in his role as Executive Creative Director.
If you want to know anything about retouching, colour grading or Photoshop, James is your man. What he doesn’t know about Photoshop, Adobe don’t know.
Connect with James at linkedin.com/in/jamesdj or follow him on the Instagram app on @d1gby
Chris and James are testament that at Saddington Baynes, we look after our own. If you’ve got eyes on becoming the next person in the hotseat, visit our “Join us” section.
