Illustrator and artist Jason Cockcroft and Managing Director of Game Republic Jamie Sefton are set to receive Honorary Master of Arts degrees from Leeds Arts University, at a ceremony celebrating graduating creative arts students.
Originally from East Yorkshire, Jamie’s journey into the games industry began in 1999 as a writer and editor for leading magazines and websites, including Official PlayStation 2 Magazine and PC Zone. This role took him around the world, interviewing some of the biggest game development studios and figures in the industry.
Today, Jamie is the Managing Director of Game Republic, the largest games industry network and trade body in the North. Over the past decade, he has led Department for Business and Trade missions to the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco and has organised major industry and investment events in both the UK and the United States, worked with local authorities and cultural organisations on public-facing games events, and brought the Eurogamer Expo to Leeds in 2009.
“I am truly honoured to receive this recognition for my contribution to the games industry in the North of England with Game Republic, particularly as it's from Leeds Arts University; an institution that celebrates creativity in the arts and has such distinguished alumni. It's fantastic that the University continues to recognise and acknowledge the contribution that video games make to the creative industries and is inspiring the next generation of graduates to make games here in the region."
Jamie Sefton, Managing Director of Game Republic
Brought up in Leeds, Jason Cockcroft has worked as a professional illustrator and artist since graduating from Falmouth School of Art in 1994. Over the course of his career, he has illustrated over fifty books and worked with all the major publishers in both the UK and the USA.
Jason’s work has earned him nominations for the Kate Greenaway Prize and Carnegie Medal, and he won the inaugural Blue Peter Award for his work on Geraldine McCaughrean’s retelling of A Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. As well as being a successful illustrator, Jason is also an award-winning author. His Young Adult novels, We Were Wolves and Running With Horses, were longlisted for the Carnegie award.
“I’m immensely honoured and grateful to receive such an award, especially in my hometown of Leeds, where I grew up and went to school. I feel very lucky to be present when so many talented creatives will graduate and celebrate their achievements, before hopefully achieving even greater things in the future in their chosen fields.”
Jason Cockcroft, Illustrator
“We are delighted to present this year’s Honorary Masters Degrees to Jamie Sefton and Jason Cockcroft. Both have made outstanding contributions to the creative industries, Jamie through his leadership in supporting and growing the games industry across Yorkshire and the UK, and Jason through his acclaimed illustrations and writing, which have captivated readers around the world. We are pleased to celebrate their achievements alongside those of our graduating students and hope their creativity, and commitment to their craft will inspire our graduates as they begin the next stage of their own creative and professional journeys.”
Professor Simone Wonnacott, Vice-Chancellor, Leeds Arts University
Honorary degrees are awarded at Leeds Arts University’s graduation ceremony, taking place on Monday 6 July, where students from across the University’s undergraduate courses will celebrate the culmination of three years of hard work as they receive their degrees.