A Shared Love of Video Games with Billelis and Luke Preece

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Two NERDs Billelis and Luke Preece recently embarked on a demon slaying project for the iconic ‘Doom The Dark Ages’. We recently caught up with the pair to discuss their joint love of video games and how they’ve inspired and influenced their work of the years.

How did the Doom project start?

Luke> Billy approached me earlier in the year and asked if I’d be up for doing another collab on Doom after the success of our previous one. Obviously I said yes. I love making stuff with him.

Were you already a fan of the iconic Doomguy’s demon slaying shenanigans?

Billy> I mean he is a video game icon haha. I remember playing the OG as a kid (without my parents knowing), and had this divine rebellion/inspiration. It is absolute carnage and a release, bashing demons back to hell is a very cathartic experience. So yes you can say I was a huge fan haha.

Luke> Absolutely! I played the original games back in the early ‘90s and have continued to play all of the subsequent titles in the series.

Have you noticed a change in how video games are now marketed and advertised?

Billy> The gaming industry has changed so much,but imo what matters the most is the gamer’s experience and fun. Microtransactions and all that ruin the experience. I game because I want to feel free to explore another realm, to lose myself, to become someone else for those hours. I love my life but also becoming a tanked demon slayer is pretty epic haha.

Luke> Back in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s the only way you’d find out about new games was word of mouth or in magazines. That and watching Gamesmaster on TV… Nowadays the industry is so huge that games are marketed like huge movies. That’s a massive step up so I guess you could say it’s changed quite a lot.

Have video games influenced or shaped your work?

Billy> Oh yes I have a whole leg tattooed with video game characters, I am 37 and still game a lot, and you could say it has been a childhood dream of mine. It’s important as artists to nurture our inner child especially as we get older. I have been very fortunate to do Art with Luke for Doom, and Diablo a few years back on my own, and I’ll never get over the feeling my inner child would get by working on these.

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Diablo II work by Billelis

Luke> 100%. I play video games quite a bit and have done since I was very young. That has inevitably sunk into my subconscious and definitely comes out in my work.

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Luke’s work for Gears 5

What do you enjoy the most about working on video game briefs?

Billy> Seeing all the incredible concept art and BTS that goes into these games. It’s amazing to put my own twist on these IP’s but I always get giddy and incredibly inspired to see what the artists of these studios have created before me. I feel honoured to put my spin on their creativity.

Luke> Getting to put my stamp on IPs I love. Essentially taking inspiration from the visuals and narrative and bring it together in a unique way whilst remaining relatable to the game.

Do you think video games as an artform are still misunderstood?

Billy> In the past, yes, I feel gaming is a key part of our culture and it truly is an artform. Everything from characters, to design, atmosphere, sound, emotion. Nothing comes close to it imo. You can watch a film and remember it, but I find games become unforgettable experiences, for me at least.

Luke> They used to be. And if I’m honest a video game used to be something you’d pick up and play for 30mins. Modern games are like these big blockbusters or yearly events that happen. It’s kind of crazy when you think about how much it has changed?!

If you could live inside any video game world what would it be?

Billy> As messed up as it would be, I’d love to live inside the Elden Ring.

Luke> Gotta be Zelda. I like the idea of hanging out in Hyrule.

3 Minutes with Billelis

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Billelis’s distinct visual style serves as a testament to his unconventional inspirations. Drawing from a diverse array of influences including religious iconography, Tarot symbolism, sci-fi aesthetics, demonic imagery, Renaissance masterpieces, anatomical illustrations a la Da Vinci, classical Greek and Roman sculptures, Baroque extravagance, tattoo artistry, and adorned saints, his work resonates with a haunting beauty that defies categorisation.

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Bill’s recognisable artworks have captivated audiences across the world, propelling him into collaborations with industry titans such as Nike, Warner Music, Netflix, Red Bull, Sony, and Apple, among a myriad of others. Through these partnerships, he continues to push the boundaries of artistic expression, leaving an indelible mark on the creative landscape.

We sat down with Bill for a cup of tea, (yes he drinks tea… just like us 🙂 ) to find out more about the most prominent moments of his career and hope for the future.

What’s the most exciting place one of your artworks have lived in?

Choosing between Times Square and The Dart Milan art gallery is a tough decision! Both hold significant moments in my career and are iconic in their own right.

What is something you’re looking forward to exploring or learning more about when it comes to your craft?

Discovering the fulfilment that arises from achieving a genuine balance between life and work has been a game-changer. Over the past decade, I immersed myself in work, but it took a toll on my personal life. Recently, I’ve made a conscious effort to prioritize my free time, and surprisingly, it has led to heightened productivity and inspiration. It’s as if setting self-imposed deadlines at the age of 35 has proven to be incredibly effective for me.

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Do you have any dream illustration projects? What are they?

We love a glass ceiling, don’t we? I have been so fortunate to work with many aspects of Hollywood and the gaming industry, coupled with the music industry and publishing book cover scene, I found myself spoilt for choice.

I have recently really enjoyed working on more collaborative projects like beer can artwork, stage art for bands and personal illustrations.

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I would love to create a coffee table book with my entire body of work, but focusing on commercial opportunities I would have to say more gaming projects and perhaps a curveball would be fashion. The tangible aspect of my work out in the world is very fulfilling.

See more from Billelis on his NERD Productions profile.

Diablo II: Resurrected – A real labor of love and respect by Billelis

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Diablo II: Resurrected is a remastered port of the classic dungeon-crawler and we got to craft some truly spectacular labors of love for Blizzard’s iconic franchise.

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​While working on this fiery set of artworks, Billelis focused on the importance of the franchise’s heritage, its lengthy history, and endless fan love while also managing his own creative needs and ideas. The combination of all these elements has shaped Bill’s voice within the artwork itself.

Billelis was an obvious choice for this project as there’s no one better suited to portraying such recognisable characters in this distinctly dark, mysterious, and powerful visual style!

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The key visual art took around six months to create as there was a lot of back and forth communication with the client to make the piece true to the brand’s vision and legacy the game already has. Blizzard’s original artwork was created over 12 years ago and Billelis nailed the rebirth of the artwork shaping it into a whole new, contemporary style. 

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For NERD Productions it was one of the most exciting projects that Billelis has worked on and we were extremely excited to support the creation of such iconic pieces. Once again, an unbelievable collaboration with the artist who truly loves the franchise and his craft.

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See more from Billelis here.

Billelis Crafts Key Artwork for Xbox Blockbuster Franchise ‘Gears of War’

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We’re amping up the action with our latest creation for notorious Xbox gaming franchise, Gears of War. With brand new gaming modes, an almighty terminator and an on-going battle for Kait’s soul, Gears 5 is readily anticipating its launch at the ‘Gears Ink’ event this September. But who created its killer rock and roll logo? Our team here at NERD.

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NEWS: Peter S Crafts Launch Film for Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity Competition ‘Future Lions’

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Following the success of the enticing concept art for the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity visionary competition ‘Future Lions’, Billelis was joined by the visionary VFX and CGI-savvy Peter S, along with AKQA, to bring to life the opening film for the world-famous awards ceremony. 

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