What Time Based Arts does

Time Based Arts is a privately held visual effects (VFX) and colour grading studio founded in 2008 and headquartered in Shoreditch, London. The studio operates from a 12,000 sq ft facility combining a warehouse and a Grade II listed Victorian townhouse, and is B-Corp certified. Its core services are 2D and 3D compositing, animation, digital compositing, and professional colour finishing delivered on a project basis for commercials, music videos, feature films, and episodic content. The studio partners closely with tier-1 advertising agencies, production companies (Biscuit Filmworks, Somesuch, MJZ, SMUGGLER, Anonymous Content), and direct brand clients across beverage, sportswear, fashion, retail, broadcasting, transport, financial services, technology, and automotive categories.

The business model is professional services: revenue is generated through per-project fees set by scope, complexity, and duration of post-production work. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. New business is sourced through creative reputation, award visibility, and direct outreach via the website and senior production staff. The studio's value proposition rests on award-winning creative talent — including named colourists Daniela Rotaru, Ruth Wardell, and Simone Grattarola — and a dense track record of recognition from D&AD, Cannes Lions, the Emmys, British Arrows, Shots, and Ciclope. A sister company, Art Practice, independently owned and run, extends the offering into direction, design, photography, and art, enabling integrated creative briefs across both entities.

The operating footprint is concentrated in London with no disclosed second studio, although the client base is international (US/UK agencies and global brands). Headcount sits in the 11–50 band, with a senior team comprising a Managing Director (Tom Johnson), Deputy Managing Director/EP (Josh Robinson), Executive Colour Producer (Dan Kreeger), Head of Production (Sian Jenkins), and New Business lead (Georgie Evans). No external funding rounds, acquisitions, or ownership changes are disclosed.

Name

Time Based Arts

Legal name

Time Based Arts

Website

https://time-based-arts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Time Based Arts is a London-based VFX and colour grading studio, founded in 2008, serving global advertising agencies, production companies, and brands on commercials, music videos, film, and episodic post-production.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Post-Production Visual Effects Services

NAICS

Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

VFX Production & Supervision (2D/3D, Compositing, FX, CG) (MPADAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

VFX Production & Shot Work (CG Integration, Matte Painting, FX) (MPAHABAB), VFX Review, QC & Delivery (Client Review, Conform, Final Outputs) (MPAHABAL)

Keywords

• Visual effects services
• Colour grading services
• Post-production studio
• Commercial VFX
• Film post-production

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. VFX and Colour Grading Services: Project-based visual effects and colour grading services for advertising commercials, music videos, film, and episodic content. Revenue is generated through per-project fees based on scope, complexity, and duration of post-production work.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Time Based Arts is a post-production studio delivering visual effects (VFX) and colour grading services for advertising campaigns, music videos, film and episodic content. Services span 2D compositing, 3D modelling and animation, and digital colour finishing, delivered project-by-project from a 12,000 sq ft studio in Shoreditch, London. The studio operates alongside sister company Art Practice, which provides directorial and creative services.

Product overview

Time Based Arts is a world-leading visual effects and colour grading studio offering two core services: VFX (visual effects) and Grading (colour grading). The studio produces commercials, music videos, film & episodic content, and other creative projects. A sister company called Art Practice operates as a creators' studio with award-winning directors, designers, photographers, and artists, enabling clients to access a broader range of creative skills across both companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Art Practice: A creators' studio made up of award-winning directors, designers, photographers and artists. It is the sister company to Time Based Arts. Independently owned and run, together they share the same ethos, values and culture.

Products and services

• Visual Effects (VFX) Full-service visual effects production for commercials, music videos, film, and episodic content, including 2D compositing, 3D modelling, animation, and digital compositing. Delivered to advertising agencies, brands, production companies, and music labels.
• Colour Grading Professional colour grading and digital finishing services for advertising, music videos, film and episodic content. Studio houses dedicated colourists Daniela Rotaru, Ruth Wardell, and Simone Grattarola.

Quantifiable outcome

• Named 'VFX Company of the Year' at British Arrows Awards
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Art PracticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt Practice is the sister company to Time Based Arts, independently owned and run but sharing the same ethos, values, and culture. Together they provide a broad range of creative services spanning VFX, colour grading, and directorial work. Pivotal projects like Honda 'Dream Makers' and Channel 4 'Idents' demonstrate the collaborative capabilities across both companies.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Framestore: London-headquartered premium VFX, colour grading and immersive studio with comparable blue-chip advertising and feature-film client base. Directly comparable on service mix (VFX + grading), award profile (Oscar/BAFTA/D&AD) and Shoreditch/Soho London talent pool.
• Black Kite Studios: London-based VFX and CG studio focused on advertising and broadcast clients. Similar project-based service model and tier of agency clientele.
• Absolute Post: London post-production house offering VFX and colour grading for advertising and broadcast. Comparable size and service mix; competes for the same mid-to-premium agency briefs.
• The Mill: Global VFX, colour grading and content creation studio with strong London presence and a marquee advertising client roster (Nike, Adidas, Google). Direct competitor for the same brand advertising briefs TBA services.
• Electric Theatre Collective: London-based creative post-production studio combining VFX, colour grading, design and direction under one roof. Closely comparable operating model and client base to Time Based Arts.
• Moving Picture Company (MPC): One of the world's largest independent VFX and post-production studios, with major London hubs. Closest large-scale direct peer on advertising and feature-film VFX, colour grading and supervision services.
• Jellyfish Pictures: London VFX, animation and post-production studio serving film, TV and advertising clients. Comparable scale and full-service VFX capability.
• Smoke & Mirrors: London post-production house providing VFX, colour grading and finishing for advertising and film. Overlapping service mix and agency client base with TBA.
• Outpost VFX: UK-based boutique VFX studio working across advertising and feature film. Comparable premium-boutique positioning and client overlap.

Emerging players

• Rising Sun Pictures: Australia-based VFX studio serving global film and advertising clients. Less geographic overlap but comparable boutique premium positioning and service mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/time-based-arts
• Instagraminstagram.com/timebasedarts
• Xx.com/TimeBasedArts

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Time Based Arts