Step behind the scenes of fantasy art with legendary graphic artist and illustrator Paul Bonner, whose iconic work has inspired generations of painters, sculptors, and gamers.

Hosted by Chris Meddings, this relaxed and engaging conversation explores Paul’s remarkable career, his creative process, and the stories behind some of his most celebrated characters and worlds. Discover how traditional illustration continues to influence miniature painting, figure sculpting, and visual storytelling today.

From concept sketches and composition to monsters, mythology, and the art of bringing imagination to life, Chris and Paul will delve into the ideas that have shaped decades of fantasy art.

The session concludes with a live audience Q&A, giving you the opportunity to ask Paul about his techniques, inspirations, career, and advice for artists and hobbyists alike.

Whether you’re a fan of fantasy illustration, miniature painting, figure modeling, or simply great storytelling, this is a rare opportunity to hear from one of the true masters of the genre.

Admission is free of charge.

• Where: Baronie hall (near the show entrance from the hotel side)
• When: Saturday 17 October
• Time: 11:00

A great diorama does more than showcase technical skill—it tells a story. Join internationally acclaimed diorama artist Greg Cihlar for an inspiring conversation with Chris Meddings as they explore the art of storytelling in scale.

Renowned for his cinematic compositions, atmospheric scenes, and emotionally engaging narratives, Greg has earned a reputation as one of the hobby’s leading dioramists. In this live interview, Chris and Greg will delve into the creative decisions behind memorable dioramas: where ideas come from, how to build a compelling narrative, and why composition, lighting, and visual flow are just as important as flawless craftsmanship.

From the first spark of inspiration to the final placement of a figure, discover how Greg creates scenes that draw viewers in and keep them looking. Along the way, expect practical tips on planning, composition, groundwork, pacing, and the subtle details that transform a collection of models into a story worth telling.

The session concludes with a live audience Q&A, giving you the opportunity to ask Greg about his techniques, creative process, favorite projects, and advice for developing your own storytelling skills.

Whether your passion is armor, aircraft, civilian subjects, fantasy, or figures, this conversation will change the way you think about dioramas—and perhaps inspire the story behind your next build.

Admission is free of charge.

• Where: Baronie hall (near the show entrance from the hotel side)
• When: Sunday 18 October
• Time: 10:30

From iconic aircraft and flashy motorcycles to battle-hardened armor, few people have influenced the scale modeling hobby as much as Marcus Nicholls. As Editor of Tamiya Model Magazine International and an internationally acclaimed modeler, Marcus has spent decades building, evaluating, and sharing some of the finest work in the hobby.

Hosted by Chris Meddings, this lively on-stage conversation will explore Marcus’s journey through the world of scale modeling, the evolution of the hobby, and the techniques and philosophies that have stood the test of time. Together they’ll discuss everything from construction and painting to weathering, research, publishing, and what really makes a model stand out—whether it has wings, wheels or tracks.

Expect practical advice, behind-the-scenes stories from the magazine, insights into memorable builds, and an honest look at how the hobby continues to evolve in the age of social media, 3D printing, and new materials.

The session concludes with a live audience Q&A, where you can put your own questions to Marcus. Whether you’re passionate about armor, aircraft, or simply want to become a better modeler, this is your chance to learn from one of the hobby’s most respected figures.

Packed with experience, inspiration, and plenty of entertaining stories, this promises to be a must-see event for modelers of every skill level.

Admission is free of charge.

• Where: Baronie hall (near the show entrance from the hotel side)
• When: Sunday 18 October
• Time: 13:00

Evi is a senior scenic painter and model maker with over eight years of experience in the themed entertainment industry, passionate about film, craftsmanship and creating visual immersive experiences.

Between 2016-2024, she has worked at P&P Projects, bringing international projects in the leisure industry to life for well-known IP’s while specializing in decorative show sets, faux finishes, and material applications for diverse environments.

She’s always dreamt of leaving her mark on extraordinary (stop-motion) film productions and after accomplishing some major goals at her previous job she felt confident to follow this dream and start her own company: Evi van der Vorst Scenic.

With extensive knowledge of painting techniques – from spray painting and faux-finishes to trompe l’oeil and aging techniques – Evi transforms 2D visions into vivid 3D worlds. She combines artistic creativity with strong technical craftsmanship.

Whether it’s theme parks, scare mazes, film- and theatre sets, or murals, big or small, Evi brings colour, texture, and imagination together to create unique experiences.

During SMC 2025 she will exhibit a variety of some recently made and some older scale models and miniatures. Evi gets inspired mostly by (horror and sci-fi) movies, aging and architecture.

Stand n. V-7

Noemi was born in Genoa in 1998, where she attended the G. Parodi Art High School, specializing in Architecture and Design. She obtained a Master’s degree in Concept Art at iMasterArt, where she also worked as a teacher for two years. After a self-taught path and numerous advanced courses, she began working in the world of sculpting and 3D printing.

Today she works as a freelancer, specializing in the creation of miniatures for board games and collectibles, both for privates and companies. She has collaborated with several companies in the sector, including Mantic Games, Militia Model, and Eldritch Foundry.

In addition to 3D modelling, she has also worked in the world of comics as a colourist: for Tacotoon with the project “In Fondo Al Drago”, for Cappuccino Express in “Irish Mist” and for E20Progetti Editore with the trilogy “Biella tra le nuvole”.

Together with Nicolò Santoro, she founded NNstudio, where they are collaborating on various comic book publications and figure production.

You can find Noemi at SMC at the Suzume Shun 3D stand, R-11