Big Buoy ‘Out-Stretch’ Flame Department with Appointment of Richard Russell

Richard ‘Stretch’ Russell has joined Big Buoy as flame artist. Known by most as ‘Stretch’, Richard Russell entered the advertising game later than most. Starting out as a runner at Rushes in his late twenties, he quickly worked his way up through the MCR department, before throwing himself at his first flame role, which he obtained until Rushes’ sad closure in late 2017. 

Stretch went on to accept a subsequent role at Glassworks London, where he worked with sought-after creative teams at world-renowned agencies such as M&C Saatchi, Kode and Hearst, across a multitude of global campaigns for Sky, Natwest and Harper’s Bazaar, to name but a few. He lists working on Black Mirror’s ‘Bandersnatch’ episode and long-form film project ‘Nocturnal Animals’ among his career highlights, but can’t not mention going viral with a Rubik’s Cube juggling video made with a friend back in 2016. 

Of his new position, Stretch comments: “I'm excited to join Big Buoy and continue on my journey of learning new techniques and tricks with Flame. There are so many talented people working here-I’m going to try to take lessons in like a sponge!”

Tim Davies, Big Buoy’s head of 2D, adds: “After hearing many great things about him we’re now delighted to welcome Stretch to the Flame team and the Big Buoy family. This is a very exciting time for us at Big Buoy as we continue to expand our VFX offering.”

When he’s not busy crafting seamless post work in one of Big Buoy’s seven stylish flame suites, Stretch can be found spending ‘entirely too much money on board games’ with friends and family in his home town in the Kentish southern coast.