My Career References

Ricardo Figueira - Digital Executive Creative Director JWT

Stuart is one of those lovely people that put the whole mind and heart into whatever he does.

Nick Moore — Creative Director TBWA\GGT

Stuart is highly conceptual and very thoughtful. He always looks at the big picture, rather than just focusing on the immediate task and pushing pixels. That being said, he is also technically skilled and has immense experience in both the hosted and adserved environments. He is an idea machine.

Nick Cooper — Executive Creative Director McCann

Stu Wilson is a passionate Creative with a drive to deliver. He gets under the skin of a client brief whilst making sure he fully understands the client's expectations and deadlines. Stu is able to assist with the strategy, evolve the brief and ensure the creative is well executed. Stu worked alongside the Production team to ensure the right photographers, CGI artists, illustrators etc. were cast for the job whilst providing Art Direction against each brief. Stu understands the digital arena and how all creative ideas should always link into the overall brief. Stu is an experienced Senior Creative who is confident in his ability and focuses on getting the job done. He is delivery driven and does not shy away from a challenge.

Celeste Dalairac — Group CD Grey London

It was a pleasure working with Stuart at Grey London, he is talented, responsible, quick and someone you can trust to manage work and clients, he definitely made my job easier and I hope our paths cross again.

Alan Perks — Creative Director GPJ

Thanks for your help Stuart on the Weather Targeting interactive storytelling for IBM Watson Advertising at Cannes Lions Festival - clarity, inspiration and graft just when it was needed.

Mark Prime — Content Creative Director McCann

You need this guy on your team. He's got a bit of everything. Strategically driven with a dynamic creative brain to match, he's got a lot of bases covered. Digitally, he's all over it. Chuck in a tremendous work ethic and the will to get things done within a framework, or by creating you a brand spanking new one and he's one of life's essentials. He's a nice fella too. He'll make a difference.

Anna Jewes — Brand Guardian and Senior Copywriter TBWA\GGT

I would describe Stuart's art direction as lateral, intelligent, inspired and professional. His biggest strength in my opinion is his unique blend of skills: a talented 'proper' art director with a real gift for digital communication. I didn't observe any weaknesses during my time working with Stuart, just a genuine passion for doing the best work.

Paula Jago — Director of Operations Fullsix

Stuart is an extraordinarily unique creative talent. He is extremely passionate about his work and it shows in the detail. I loved working with him and hope to do so again in the future.

Chris Falconer — Managing Director McCann

Stuart Wilson is a very talented chap and someone who, over the course of his time with Team IX/McCann, helped us set up a client relationship for success. His strategic knowhow, coupled with a finely tuned creative brain, is an incredibly valuable business asset in a world where creativity is the differentiator. On top of this, he is someone who is unerringly committed, who gives everything every day and who is driven to deliver for his colleagues and clients. In the end, we decided to shape the creative team differently from a geographic perspective - and we wish Stu nothing but success for the future.

Ringo Moss — Managing Partner McCann Global Strategy McCann

We initially hired Stu for a 3 month contract after a huge global client win. We needed to hit the ground running on our first project; the global launch of a new product in 46 markets, with only six months to deliver it. Stu was an invaluable addition to the team from day one and we went on to twice renew his contract with us. In often trying circumstances, with huge briefs and tight deadlines Stu’s systematic, uncompromising and relentless approach has helped shape the culture in the team he has left behind him at McCann. Stu’s a bit of a polymath, turning his hand to strategy and creative, conceptual and executional, thinking and (crucially) doing. His often-bold vision creates a momentum within teams that delivers brilliant ideas and inspires the people who work alongside him. Put simply - he gets sh*t done, and done well. Above all, Stu is a real gentleman and a bloody nice bloke to be around and work with.

Fiona Keyte — Planning Partner Grey London

I had the pleasure of working with Stuart (and Belen) for 6 months on a highly regulated category. Stuart is speedy, motivated and can work within challenging conditions that demand inventive yet pragmatic solutions. He was great to work with.

Richard Smith — IX Global Operations Director McCann

Stu is a beacon of clarity. Articulate, creative and collaborative, he's a joy to work with. From the very onset, we were under immense pressure to deliver an incredible volume of work. Stu demonstrated his willingness, daily, to roll up his sleeves to 'get it done' as well as being able to detach himself from the grind and deliver inspiring, blue sky, thinking. As a creative, he demonstrates commercial awareness. As a strategist, he provides the creative articulation to support his thinking. I hope our paths cross again.

Dave Evans — CTO Somo

Stuart joined Somo as creative director, and made an immediate impact with winning pitches to both new and existing businesses. Stuart is an articulate, passionate and dedicated member of the team extremely motivated to produce excellence. Unusually Stuart also has a drive to bring people around him on the creative journey, educating and mentoring such staff, creating a general improvement in the team output. I personally enjoyed working with Stuart both in the creative process, and as a team member, as he thinks deeply about the challenges and always proposes solutions. I would highly recommend Stuart in a senior creative role.

Roger Jackson — CEO Shopper Intelligence

Stuart is a clear thinker with the ability to keep you focussed on what really matters in your communication. He worked hard to keep the process "strategy first" which clearly is crucial and didn't distract with creative ideas too early. That made the eventual result far more powerful and relevant. A communication approach that should last us for years (if not forever!)

Mark Rees-Weeden — Managing Partner Grey London

Stuart & Bele were exactly what we needed in a freelance Creative team. From day one, they got thoroughly stuck in and under the skin of the Client and the campaign work already on the table, they were switched on, fast and quick to grasp the immediate tasks as well as some of the longer term work required and through out it all, delivered with good humour and grace. I have no doubt we'll work together again.

Ben Rickard — Head of Mobile JWT

I've had the pleasure of working with Stu on client work, pitches and within a start up environment. He's a mobile first creative who instinctively gets the importance of mixing ideas, design and user behaviour - a rare combination. I would highly recommended his work and he's great guy to have on your team.

Becs Cole — Production Director at McCann

Watching Stu work is mesmerising. His drive, passion and the commitment he brings to every project is unwavering and you just can’t help but be inspired. He is an absolute pleasure to work with and is an exceptional creative thinker. A true collaborator and partner who I very much look forward to working with again.

Dwayne Huggins — Senior Project Manager McCann

Stuart. In a nut-shell, one of the best creative types I've had the pleasure to work with. We worked on large, global toolkits and small one item assets. His passion for creating the best work possible for both were at the same high level. His ability to deep dive into a client or strategic brief is second to none. This enables him to ask the correct, unthought of questions of the briefs which in-turn always gave a much more robust, well considered output. I look forward to working with him again.

Pieter Meiring — Project Manager Cyber Duck

As a senior project manager at Cyber-Duck, I worked closely with Stu as Creative Director on multiple projects. He is a wonderfully creative person, with solid, well-considered and strategic ideas, not only promoting the creative and visual direction but also supporting the business objectives of clients. He is open-minded and brings a refreshing thought process to the work at hand, yet once a direction is set, Stu has the ability to focus and deliver outstanding work. I endorse him whole-heartedly.

Marcin Michalowsi — Digital Project Manager McCann

I have worked with Stuart for over 9 months on a variety of projects at McCann. He was always a valuable member of the project team and contributed massively throughout all phases of the project. Always happy to provide support to all team members and share his passion for work with everyone. It was an absolute pleasure having Stuart on the team to see him deliver outstanding creative work.

Graham West — Senior Copywriter McCann

A first class CD, Strategist, Presenter, Thinker, Art Director, Designer and Motivator. Stuart has great vision that sweeps the team along with him. He has a wealth of up-to-date knowledge that opens minds and inspires. He produces work that gets results. Plus, he's smart, funny and honest - a pleasure to work with.

Ross Cockrill — Copywriter ZAK

Stu is the most strategic and straight-talking leader I have ever worked under. The most daunting of projects instantly seem more achievable with him at the helm. He'll back his team every time, confident that if common sense is applied throughout, and no one panics, they'll always arrive at where we need to be. This confidence is infectious, not to mention a calming influence on everyone involved. The other thing Stu brings to a project is clarity. He is extremely methodical, planning the structure of many working sessions in advance. This sounds restrictive, but it's the complete opposite of that in reality. By taking ownership of the overall journey the project team are on so effortlessly, everyone else is left free to focus purely on coming up with ideas, which come a lot more readily as a result. And when great ideas are hatched, Stu is always the first to give credit where it's due. Which is testament to how egoless and down to earth he is. Top bloke, basically.

Garreth Carter — Senior Creative ZAK

Of all the CD's, ECD's I've worked with over the years Stu is the best at discovering the right idea. His technique to do so is by taking a team on journey that leads you to a robust idea that is able to flex. Extremely strategic, his technique is to be is the guardian of that journey but he lets the input of the team write each chapter. This results in egoless ideas that blossom into something that is multifaceted yet singularly brilliant and no one even remembers who gave birth to the initial thought, which is indicative of the sense of collective ownership of work he instils in the team. An eye opening process that once delivered feels like a must do approach for all holistic 360 modern advertising.

Trevor de Silva — Senior Copywriter Red Havas

Not only is Stu an outstanding creative (great design and art direction skills) but also possesses an excellent strategic mind. He is thorough, enthusiastic, highly collaborative and has a finger on the pulse of current design and tech' trends. Moreover, he's a pleasure to work with.

Victoria Crump — Copywriter JWT

Dynamic, driven and a true digital evangelist, Stuart is a visionary who takes quantum creative leaps, developing award-winning work that doesn't just dazzle, it defies boundaries. He's breathtaking in his brilliance - and he really does have it all. From blinding intelligence and creativity to illuminating insights that light up new possibilities in ways you'd never have imagined. Stuart gets extraordinary results even from ordinary briefs because he approaches every brief with exceptional passion, attention to detail and a steely determination to push the limits of any media. Inspired and inspiring, Stuart's also a joy to work with: a team player of great integrity who injects his trademark warmth and humour into every job. He's also a great mentor and manager of people, and has Creative Director written all over him. In short: Stuart's a rare digital star - grab him if you can.

Linnie Rawlinson — Copywriter Cyber Duck

It’s beautiful and inspiring to watch Stuart’s creativity in action. He brings thoughtfulness to ideation, he’s inclusive and a lovely guy to work with. He's especially gifted at leveraging the power of words and imagery together, and applying rigour to the creative process. He's also an absolute pleasure to tag-team with in creative sessions - seriously, you'll have so much fun.

Callum Henderson — Content Copywriter Red Havas

I can honestly say that I loved working with Stuart. He stood out as a true mentor figure on our team, offering guidance, advice, and constructive criticism with his trademark humor and gentle confidence. Stuart has an innate capacity to bring out the very best work in others and has a wealth of experience and insights to draw upon. I have watched in awe, time and time again, as he has methodically taken apart brands, with all the expertise of a seasoned engineer, to understand what is going on under the hood, and then put the intricate mechanism back together again, better than ever. His huge artistic talents are obvious and immeasurable; but what makes Stuart a creative director, in the operative sense of the word, is his disciplined and systematic process. He has taught me so much in such a short time about agency life, innovation, and the refinement of ideas. But, most of all, I appreciated his playfulness, friendly nature, and his kind heart. He is a true gentleman and an invaluable colleague for any organisation.

Daniel Simpson — Copywriter Yes&Pepper

We got Stuart in for a couple of weeks to help out on a pitch. Stuart worked in a team with myself. He fitted in from the very first minute of the very first morning, was really easy to get on with and, despite being a few years my senior (sorry Stu) and with some big names on his CV, had an ego he could comfortably fit in his pencil case. Although we didn't win the pitch, we produced some work I am incredibly proud of and would definitely recommend Stuart to anyone who is looking for a talented art director who doesn't mind putting in the hours when the poop hits the propeller.

Simon Morrison — Design Director Cygnus

I had the pleasure of working alongside Stuart, sometimes into the night, on a pitch for Bridgestone Tyres. We got quite close as you do in our industry especially on the deep dive projects. I could sense his pedigree not only in his education and experience but also in his insight and ability. A deeply caring, mature and astute designer. Members of the agency were captured by his craft, most of them virgin to his research, analysis and synthesis approach. I haven't seen a better verbal and marker-pen communicator in years. His ideas are grounded in strategy and fused in tech - you could tell this was an area of passion. When we got around to colouring in, the Art Director hat came on and from what I could see from the effort of others around him, he wasn't any less inspiring. Biased? Nah. Respect where respect is due.

Frank Coxon — Senior Designer Red Havas

I worked with Stuart at Red Havas for 8 month between 2022-2023. During this time Stu consistently demonstrated outstanding creativity, leadership and professionalism.

Under Stu’s guidance, our team produced exceptional work that exceeded our clients' expectations. His ability to conceptualise and execute innovative ideas has been invaluable to our agency. Additionally, Stu’s ability to deconstruct briefs, inject strategic thinking and keen eye for detail is second to none, which has enabled our team to create visually stunning and effective marketing campaigns.

I have greatly enjoyed working with Stu, who’s inspired and motivated me personally to do my best work. I highly recommend him for any position that requires a creative leader with a track record of success. I have no doubt he will continue to excel in any role he takes on in the future.

Alicia Chapman — Senior Creative Artworker & Designer McCann

I had the pleasure to work with Stuart on a new product launch campaign at McCann Central. It was a huge project, with a very large team and Stuart was at its core. Details within the brief changed a number of times (as they do) but Stu was able to action the necessary changes throughout the creative team to ensure that we still meet our deadlines. Stuart has an amazing way with words (I've never met anyone like it!). He is able to verbalise ideas in his head in such a unique way that you have no problems understanding his creative direction and how it needs to be visualised/executed. Stu is also a great sounding board for bouncing ideas off and I'd love the opportunity to work with him again on future projects/bookings.

Matt Fairgrieve — Senior Graphic Designer McCann

Stu is an amazing creative influence. He works on a whole other level and one can only be inspired by working with him. All agencies need someone like Stu to drive creative, strategic ideas that push the boundaries and expectations of their clients.

Rosemary Winsor — Designer McCann

Stu Wilson is a true expert in his field. He comes with plethora of knowledge and insight in creative strategy and creative direction. He has in-depth knowledge and understanding within advertising which is dazzling. It has been my pleasure to work with Stu on numerous projects at McCann and he has never ceased to surprise or delight the people he works with and clients. He always brings something special and unique to the table that generates excitement and expectation, but also able to throughly explain the thinking behind an idea and the process. Stu has the ability to enthuse and inspire people and projects.

Chris Jones — Designer McCann

Stu is a master Strategist with a clear understanding of how our industry works. His unique (almost storyteller) style of direction is detailed, insightful and always very funny. As a creative myself I really respond to this approach. I look forward to working with him in the future.

Veronica Rossi — Lead Experience Designer Cyber Duck

Stu is a very creative person, he always gets new ideas, he adds a creative thinking touch to everything and he is passionate about his job. He is dedicated and serious, a good manager, always open to listening and supporting the team, thinking outside of the box. Stu brings his broad design and ux experience wherever he goes. He always challenges people to get the best out of a project with a lot of research, passion and determination. I wouldn’t hesitate to hire him for any Branding, UX/UI or Product Design job.

Kai Tan — Junior Designer Cyber Duck

Stu is a great influence for me and other designers. His work, processes, and methods of working helped me to become a better junior designer and he has great influence on all the people he works with. He is always open to help, supportive and a great line manager too. Hope we work together again in the future!

Féli Yaucat — Digital Designer Red Havas

It was a pleasure to have had the chance to work with someone like Stuart. I have no doubt that I will benefit from the advice he has given me in the future. He has helped me develop even more as a creative thinker, taking new approaches to my design. Excellent at bringing creative teams together and completing projects. I'm sure we will cross paths again in the future.

Amba Smith — Junior Graphic Designer McCann

Brilliant and inspiring work ethic. Goes above and beyond for clients ensuring we pushed the creative. Brilliant mentoring enabled me to come to him for advice to achieve the best outcomes. Enjoyed being part of his team.

Joanna Maestas — QA Analyst Cyber Duck

Stuart has a vast range of knowledge and expertise that he shares with his team; he cares about bringing out the best in them for whatever project they are given. He was always on hand to offer advice and guidance, and shared his perspective on improving our processes. He runs in-depth, creative and analytical brainstorming workshops in an open and encouraging environment so everyone feels comfortable to share their ideas and opinions. Stuart has an extremely high standard for quality which shines through in his work. He is a good lister and problem solver with professional integrity; he's extremely artistic, innovative and passionate about the work he does, and is a true leader in his field.

Heather Ashwood — Senior Account Manager McCann

I love a problem solver and I love seeing a true creative bring their ideas to life with passion and excitement. Stu’s intrinsic motivation, forward thinking approach and strategic creative mind meant any project we worked on exceeded all expectation and brought that hidden smile to your face. A natural leader who is always one step ahead with a can do attitude - Stu is your guy!

Rebecca Muir — Account Director McCann

Stu’s unequivocal and relentless approach to his work is inspirational as well as magical. I would often introduce people to him as “this is Stu, he makes magic happen”. There’s no end to Stu’s talent, skill and ambition for a brand. I hope our paths will cross again...

Chloe Polo — Digital Account Manager McCann

Stu is definitely one of the good guys that I came across during my time at the agency. Armed with his fantastic eye, and great mind, Stu takes pride in producing high-quality strategically driven creatives. Stu can come up with strong, emotive ideas that, when crafted, look amazing. He understands the client needs by understanding the business objectives and never fails to deliver meaningful, engaging and thought provoking concepts - I’ll especially miss Stu’s analogies that he uses to cleverly explain his creative thought process! Stu will ask questions that perhaps haven’t been considered, and come back to you with a great conceptual solution. He is a very talented creative thinker who can arrive at simple solutions to complex needs. The best part? He’s a really lovely guy who always delivers and it has been a real pleasure to work with him. I look forward to working with Stu again in the future!

Ravi Motha — Web developer JWT

He’s a well respected creative. I had the pleasure of working with him on a variety of projects for both large corporates and smaller clients. He treats both with the same care. His work is creative and he has deservedly won awards for the campaigns he has been involved with. He is an excellent collaborator, he listens to the client and to the brief and works very hard to make sure the right messages and the key messages are delivered. As a person he is genuine pleasure to work with. He is a proper collaborator, taking time to ask questions and use other people’s knowledge to make the work better. From taking the time to understand a new technology or spend some time messing around ina new field and asking for help. He learns and absorbs that knowledge and learning to create new unique opportunities that actually benefit the client and the campaign rather than just being a fad chaser. I’d happily work with him again and recommend you find a way to work with him too.

Ajoni Nelaj — Communication, Production & Creative Red Havas

Stuart is a dedicated and original individual as much as he is a proactive Creative Director. I had the pleasure to work with him on several projects at Havas, and he proved to be always palpably able to extricate creative solutions and strategies for complex client requirements. Moreover, I appreciate how he ethically allowed junior creative designers under his lead to confide in him for advice, training, and career inspiration. I recommend Stuart to a company that is looking for new ways to look at things, where creativity can solve business problems.

Sharon Winifred — Content/Social Media Manager Red Havas

Stuart is an amazing person to work with. He is a brilliant storyteller and has the ability to inspire and bring out the best work from the team. His unmatched insights and extensive experience make him the go-to person to ask for help and advice — career or otherwise. His systematic approach and digestible way of explaining things make even the most daunting of briefs conquerable. During our brief time working together, I have learnt so much from him. Stuart’s innovative approaches, out-of-the-box thinking and kind heart will definitely make him a valuable asset to any organisation.

Lucy Chesworth — Production Executive McCann

Everyone remembers their first job as being very daunting when they first started but with friendly faces like Stu’s and his willingness to have a quick chat every now and then I settled in really quickly. He is such a welcoming, friendly guy with a creative talent that commands respect from everyone’s he’s worked with here. Needless to say, he will be sorely missed and I very much look forward to working with him again in the future.