Sam Westbury

Sam Westbury is a professional Prop Maker with a career covering film, theatre, museums, theme parks, and other sectors of the entertainment industry. After completing his apprenticeship at the English National Opera, Sam has contributed to globally renowned companies including Lucasfilm, The Really Useful Group, Disney, The National Theatre, The Royal Opera House, Madame Tussauds, The Science Museum, Damien Hirst, MD Models, and many more.

Alongside his industry work, Sam is a practising artist, with a practice rooted in installation, sculpture, street art, and immersive environments. His academic credentials include a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education, and an MA in Practice as Research, with a focus on using space as a narrative device.

Since 2002, Sam has been a key member of the University of Kent's School of Arts, where he serves as a specialist technician and workshop supervisor. In this role, he demonstrates and oversees all aspects of scenic art, design, and construction, working closely with students in a fully equipped arts workshop. His areas of expertise include puppetry and mask-making, scenic painting, drawing and design for stage and screen, life-casting, SFX, and sculpting. Sam also delivers lectures on professional practices in backstage theatre and film art departments.

Sam joined the University of Kent, School of Arts in 2002 Teaching, managing and supervising all aspects of scenic art and construction for the students, in the School of Arts fully equipped workshop. Particular areas of student supervision and development are puppetry and manipulated objects, scenic painting, life-casting and sculpting.

Modules convened and taught at the University of Kent include:

• M level Scenography (Drama)
• Year 3 Scenography,(Drama)
• Stage practise(Drama),
• Theatre workshop (Drama),
• Year 2 Celebratory performance (EED)

He has taught on the BA hons degree in Creative Arts for Theatre and Film, at the University for the Creative Arts in Rochester.
Also Taught workshops with schools and Further Education Colleges. for the University of Kent Partnership and Development Office.