Danny Coyne’s journey into the creative industry didn’t start with a clear plan, but with an opportunity that challenged him from day one. Beginning his career at an e-learning company in Ireland, he quickly learned the realities of professional creativity sometimes through blunt feedback, other times through the sheer perseverance needed to push forward. Now based in Leamington Spa and working independently, Danny reflects on how resilience, honesty, and adaptability have shaped his path as both a motion designer and illustrator.

With a style that blends organic roughness with adaptability, Danny’s work spans animation, illustration, and design. Along the way, he has found inspiration from comic book legends, honed his craft using tools like After Effects and Procreate, and built the resilience necessary to thrive in a tough industry. In this interview, he shares candid insights on navigating rejection, staying motivated, and carving out a creative identity in a world where expectations for creatives are higher than ever.

How did you first get into the industry?

My first proper start was creating illustrations and animations for an e-learning company in Ireland. It was a learning experience alright. One of my new co-workers later told me if he had been there during my interview, he would have said not to offer me the job. Brilliant man, thanks for that. 

Where are you based now and who do you work for?

Based in Leamington Spa. Currently, I’m flying solo.

What is your personal background and what role did it play in your career?

I’m a working class boy and I’ve been lucky enough to have a stable background. This has no doubt played a big part in choices I had or decisions I had to make regarding work.

If you weren’t in your current industry, what would you be doing?

I don’t know. Not looking at spreadsheets. Possibly doing something with my hands though.
I’d like to go back in time and follow my dream of being a comic book artist.

How would you describe your style?

I think my style fluctuates somewhat, but in personal work, I like a bit of a rough, organic or analogue feeling to my work. It really depends on what I’m working on. I’m not sure if it’s a strength, if I’m honest. But I will say I am adaptable.

Which individuals do you gain inspiration from? Do you have any heroes in the industry?

Oh, loads…As I’ve worked across different industries, there’s new inspiration all the time. Going back to earlier years whenI read more comics, people like Jim Steranko or Alex Toth…Not that that’s evident in my work really. In my design work though, I can’t say there’s any one person I swoon over!

What tips would you give to aspiring creatives looking for work?

I don’t want to give a vanilla answer here. Everyone knows how tough it can be looking for work. It’s a complete buyers market right now and creatives of all disciplines are undervalued more than ever before. My tip would be to ‘build resilience’. It can feel like shouting into space for much of the time, given the chronically low response rates. Don’t take it personally, don't give up. Look to new strategies if what you’re currently doing is not making progress.

Can you share a memorable experience from your career journey that shaped your approach to creativity?

I remember one time in particular a colleague of mine sitting down and telling me bluntly and honestly ‘You’re not doing as well as you think you are…’ That was really something that’s stuck with me and completely changed my approach to work. I don’t know if I was coasting, or was bored at the time, but it was the kick in the arse I needed to change not just the way I think about creativity, but how I engage with my work and with others around me both inside and outside of work.

What kind of tools/kit/software could you not do without?

My current weapons of choice are After Effects/photoshop and illustrator. But really, I love Procreate so much. So much of my illustration work has been made through that app at some point.

What’s your secret to staying inspired and motivated?

There’s inspiration everywhere to be honest. I think always trying to push on to the next level or trying something out keeps me motivated. Recently though, I’ve felt like is this more just chasing something? Creating art vs creating design are different things, even thought there are overlaps

What’s the work achievement you’re most proud of?

I think the shift in drive is a big achievement. It’s made me push on with most projects that I take up. Finishing a short animated film was at the time the biggest project I’ve worked on solo. There was a lot of after-work-hours time put into completing that. But I did it and it got accepted to a decent number of film festivals I’d submitted to.

As someone with experience in the industry, what trends do you foresee shaping the future of creativity?

I honestly can’t say. How different were things last year to this year. I will say it feels grim. It’s difficult seeing so many talented people cast aside from their jobs in the last couple of years. And that’s across all disciplines.

What do you think sets apart truly exceptional creatives from the rest of the pack?

Visibility and space to create I think is something that allows people to follow their.

How do you think technology has influenced the creative industries and how have you adapted to these changes?

Oh, it’s for the better and the worse, isn’t it? I’m wholly against the idea of prompting to produce art or design. It cheapens creativity even more while also costing so much. People are happy to use AI across so many areas now with no concern with bigger implications because it doesn’t affect them personally. You can’t even say it’s victimless crime.

Maybe my adaptation is slower. Maybe I’ll get back to doing traditional art and have a better chance to make a living from that!

What is the one thing that you would change about the industry?

I’m saying two things…I’d change the levels of expectation and remuneration. Maybe this is a more HR type thing I’d change, but the expectation that one discipline covers a broad range of other related/non-related disciplines, too, is unreasonable. To ask that a graphic designer must also be a photographer, illustrator, video editor, motion designer, 3d artist, character artist, social media…whatever, etc, etc Let’s get real. It’s true that some people do touch on all those disciplines on occasion, but not all the time. Plus, getting paid peanuts…it’s too much.

Any websites, books or resources you would recommend?

Well, if you want to find out a bit about me, I’d love for anyone to come visit my own site.