Sam O’Leary BA (HONS), MA, ACIfA

Graphics & Illustration Manager

From his undergraduate and postgraduate studies at Exeter University (graduated 2013) to his various appointments in commercial archaeology, Sam has focused on the graphic representation of archaeological data. Working as a digger, geophysicist, consultant and illustrator his experience has taken him from research excavations into the first horse domestication in Kazakhstan (2012), through extensive landscape surveys of Cumbria in advance of the planned nuclear power plant at Sellafield (2015), to a range of projects across England and Wales illustrating excavation plans, maps and artefacts for Cotswold Archaeology (2016-17).

Sam moved to AOC Archaeology in March 2017 to undertake the position of Graphics and Illustration Officer, and since 2021 has managed AOC’s illustration service. In this capacity he specialises in the production of graphic outputs that convey complex information in a clear and comprehensive fashion. His specialism include hand drafted and digitised artefact illustration, artefact photography and 3D photogrammetry / photo processing, historic and topographic mapping info graphics and detailed excavation plans / section drawings.

In his time at AOC Sam has worked on a variety of commercial and community excavations such as A9 Duelling, HS2, Black Loch of Myrton and Clachtoll. He has also produced extensive artefact illustrations for various clients. These range from Prehistoric lithics and ceramics to Victorian leather and ironwork from Edinburgh’s Gasworks.