I've been in the graphics industry on and off for around 20 years, and for the past 10 I've been a freelancer working on some pretty successful games. But it hasn't all been work, in spite of my friends insisting that I'm a workaholic.

After graduating I started out in design studios in Manchester, London, Salford and Chorley pulling 100+ hour weeks but at least you learn the ropes that way, and working with clients like Barclays, Lloyds & American Express to name but a few blue chip companies I've dealt with makes you appreciate a deadline. Then I went visiting friends round the world for a year and causing offence by playing my guitar at them. After that it was teaching English in Athens for a couple of years before coming back to England to set up as a freelancer in Newcastle upon Tyne.

You may have seen my work in Transport Tycoon and addon packs, Rollercoaster Tycoons 1 and 2, and more recently Chris Sawyer's Locomotion. I did all the in game graphics for those. You may have also seen my imagery inside magazines from Future or Paragon publishing, as well as articles, reviews and tutorials. Oh, and I musn't forget design work for various businesses ranging from Pilates studios to international Genetic companies. And if I had one piece of advice for anyone setting out as a designer? Simple really. Just three little words. Get things done.

Simon Foster can be contacted at simesf@blueyonder.co.uk