Leigh Took of Mattes and Miniatures presents a live demonstration of the critically endangered craft of matte painting. Showing the process of painting throughout the day, Leigh will present a short talk about the heritage craft and take questions from the floor.

Once central to filmmaking, matte painting was used to create expansive worlds beyond the limits of physical sets. British studios such as Pinewood and Shepperton led the way, with artists including Les Bowie and Albert Whitlock shaping some of cinema’s most iconic landscapes — from the James Bond series to Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977).

With the rise of CGI, the craft declined, but today it is seeing a quiet resurgence as filmmakers return to the beauty and authenticity of in-camera techniques.