Role: Art Director
Client: BBC Creative
Production: BBC Factual Productions
Assets: Key art, VOD, social, press and publishing

The Challenge
To create an iconic key art image for this classic BBC One drama centred on survival, adventure, and a young boy’s coming of age.

The campaign needed to capture both the scale and intensity of the story, while delivering a strong, singular image of the lead character. Alongside this, a suite of unit stills was required to reflect the tone of the drama and to support the marketing and publicity campaign.

Creative Development
In response to the narrative’s central turning point—the moment the whale destroys the Essex—I developed a concept that places the audience directly within the chaos of the event.

I chose to visualise the experience from beneath the surface. By shifting the perspective underwater, the imagery captures both the physical violence of the shipwreck and the vulnerability of the central character, reinforcing the story’s coming-of-age arc.

This approach allowed the campaign to feel immediate and immersive, while creating an unusual and eye catching visual identity that reflects the scale of the drama.

Execution
I art directed an underwater shoot at Mediterranean Film Studios in Malta, working with photographer Zena Holloway to realise the concept. The shoot focused on capturing a sense of movement, disorientation, and isolation, placing the lead character at the centre of the unfolding event.

Alongside the key art, I oversaw the unit photography with Nick Wall, ensuring a cohesive set of stills that supported the campaign across all platforms.

© BBC (reproduced with permission)