William Bishop-Stephens

Bio

Originally trained as a sculptor, William earned a BA in Fine Art (Sculpture) before going on to complete an MA in Animation at the Royal College of Art, where he developed a unique interdisciplinary practice that merges animated storytelling with physical and spatial exploration. He later completed a DFA (Professional Doctorate in Fine Art) with a focus on immersive installation, projection, and participatory animation, contributing new knowledge to the evolving field of practice-based research in Expanded Animation.

William’s creative work spans award-winning stop motion films, interactive fine art installations, and socially engaged projects, many of which have been exhibited and screened internationally. His co-directed short film Two Films About Loneliness (2014) achieved critical acclaim and a long festival run, including nominations at Sundance, AFI Fest, and the Edinburgh International Film Festival, alongside screenings at more than 30 festivals worldwide. The film received a Vimeo Staff Pick and won multiple awards, including the Grand Prix at Corti Sul Filo Del Limite Festival in Italy. His more recent series of immersive installations titled Thrum (2019–2025) has been showcased in both solo and group exhibitions, including Being Human Festival, Exploding Cinema, and as a live performance at Fredrikstadt Film Festival, Norway.

In parallel with his creative practice, William has built a distinguished career in higher education. He has held leadership and teaching roles across several UK institutions, including as Course Leader for BA Animation and BA Illustration & Animation at the University of East London, and as Programme Development and Enhancement Leader. He joined UCA Farnham in 2022 as Senior Lecturer and was appointed Acting Programme Director in 2024, where he now leads one of the UK’s most prestigious undergraduate animation programmes. William is known for his student-centred approach, nurturing individuality, experimentation, and critical thinking while embedding industry relevance and technical excellence across the curriculum. At the University of East London (UEL), he was Course Leader for both the BA (Hons) Animation and BA (Hons) Animation and Illustration programmes, playing a key role in curriculum development, student mentoring, and programme enhancement from 2014 to 2022.

William’s expertise is widely recognised beyond UCA. He has served as an External Examiner for programmes in the UK and internationally — most recently at LASALLE Puttnam School of Film and Animation in Singapore — and has contributed to course validations, quality reviews, and academic consultancy for institutions such as the University of Falmouth and the University of Bedfordshire. A passionate educator and mentor, he has also taught across numerous institutions as a guest lecturer and visiting tutor, including the Royal College of Art, British Higher School of Art & Design (Moscow), Royal Holloway University of London, Plymouth College of Art, Westminster University, and West Dean College.

Alongside his academic and creative pursuits, William maintains an active profile as a speaker, panelist, and researcher. His presentations have featured at a range of academic and industry events, including the Affect & Social Media conference, Play with Purpose, and the Affect Symposium at UEL. He has served on juries and panels for the London International Animation Festival, Interfilm Berlin, and the British Film Institute (BFI), and has given interviews and talks at venues such as Sundance Film Festival, INTERFILM, Berlin, and Oberhausen Short Film Festival.

As a researcher, William is particularly interested in the intersections of affect, space, and materiality in animation and installation practice. His research and informs both his teaching and creative output. He maintains an active research profile, continually exploring how animated practice can engage audiences in new, sensory, and participatory ways.

William’s commercial animation credits include collaborations with respected studios such as Fat Rat Films, Nexus, Blink Ink, and Theatre Bristol. His professional practice spans television, viral campaigns, and children’s theatre, including animations for the Kid Carpet & The Noisy Animals national tour and educational campaigns commissioned by the NHS, WWF, and various local authorities. His ability to adapt his creative voice across formats and audiences makes him a rare bridge between the fine art, commercial, and educational sectors.

He has also led a wide range of community projects and socially engaged commissions, delivering animation workshops and residencies for museums, schools, and public organisations, including the National Portrait Gallery, Victoria & Albert Museum, Orleans House Gallery, and the Royal Academy of Art. Many of these initiatives involved co-creation with young people, underserved groups, and those with complex needs, reflecting William’s commitment to inclusion, access, and participatory practice in the arts.

Throughout his career, William has combined deep creative inquiry with a collaborative, open approach to both making and teaching. As a mentor, course leader, and academic, he is dedicated to helping emerging animators find their voice, challenge convention, and build sustainable, fulfilling creative practices. At UCA Farnham, he continues to foster a thriving community of makers, thinkers, and storytellers, supporting students as they step confidently into the evolving world of animation.

www.williambishopstephens.com

Instagram.@willbishopstephens