A woman (Courtney Westbrook) with blonde hair, blue eyes, and orange earrings sitting against a plain light grey background, wearing a blue charcoal button-up shirt and pants. A headshot style image.
The phrase "Courtney Westbrook" as a logo design. Courtney is written in bold orange in a hand drawn font. Westbrook is layered behind and intertwined with the Courtney font, in a series of black outlines of letters.

director, designer, and maker exploring story, character, and form

An orange fruit, a vibrant orange pillar candle with smoke rising. The orange candle is on a sage green ceramic plate. A white candle, and a small orange flower in a brown vase on a table surface covered in rust colour silk.
A close-up view of a green eye from a paper puppet, surrounded by textured skin with layers of paint. The eye features a reflection of five doctor figures, including two with glasses and a third with a lanyard. Film still from If/When short film.

I consider how stories, environments, and objects shape character, experience, and behaviour.

My work spans cinematic storytelling, sculptural objects, and the development of Character Capital™. An evolving framework exploring narrative structure, personal growth, and intentional living.

A puppet with brown hair, a white button up long-sleeved shirt, and grey trousers standing on a simulated ocean surface made of crumpled metallic material with mountains and a sunset sky painted in the background. Still from Cnut short film.
Read my story

my current focus

  • I create emotionally driven films that blend stop-motion animation, live action, and tactile world-building.

    My work explores themes of connection, memory, identity, time, and human behaviour through craft-heavy visual storytelling.

    After more than a decade working in visual storytelling as a production designer, I’m now expanding my practice into directing.

    My latest short film If/When continues to screen nationally and internationally. I’m currently developing my next short film alongside my first feature film as director.

  • For over a decade, I’ve designed visual worlds across film, television, theatre, and live events from concept through to creation.

    My work spans sets, props, miniatures, graphics, colours, textures, puppets and spatial storytelling, shaping environments that support narrative, emotion, and character development.

    I work across both live action and stop-motion animation, often blending the two mediums through tactile, craft-driven design approaches.

  • Over the years, I’ve worked across a broad range of art department roles including Production Design, Art Direction, Set Decoration, Props, Scenic Art, Graphic Design, Miniatures, Puppets, Buying, and Set Dressing.

    My experience spans feature films, television, stop-motion animation, theatre, and commercial projects, working with studios and platforms including Disney, Marvel, Netflix, Stan, Prime Video, and more.

    I’m drawn to tactile world-building, visual cohesion, and small details that make environments feel emotionally believable.

  • I’m the founder of The Messy Formist (TMF), a sculptural object studio exploring the relationship between functional forms and focus.

    Influenced by human-made forms, forms found in nature, and tactile making, TMF emerged through an interest in how objects and environments can shape attention, and the way people move through daily life.

    What began through sculptural candles and a need for sensory-focused objects continues to evolve into a growing collection of functional forms designed to support focus, reduce distraction, and help people begin and finish meaningful work.

    Explore TMF

  • I’m currently developing Character Capital™, an evolving framework inspired by storytelling, psychology, design thinking, and personal growth.

    The idea emerged from my background in film and design, where understanding character is central to building believable worlds and meaningful stories. Over time, I began exploring how those same principles could apply to real life, shaping identity, decision-making, goal setting, behaviour, and the way people build a life that feels aligned with who they are becoming.

    Character Capital™ currently exists through writing, research, reflection, and ongoing creative development, with future plans spanning courses, books, speaking, workshops, and educational resources.

    Journal page coming soon.

  • I co-founded Aracourt Studio alongside Ara Nuri Steel as a multidisciplinary female-led creative practice spanning film, design, and experimental storytelling.

    Together, we develop visually driven work that blends cinematic language, tactile processes, stop-motion animation, production design, and conceptual world-building.

    Our collaborative work often explores themes of identity, memory, transformation, symbolism, and emotional experience through mixed-media storytelling and handcrafted visual approaches.

    Aracourt Studio collaborates with selected artists, brands and organisations to develop original creative projects.

    Explore Aracourt Studio

if/when

Two puppets with human-like features are in a fridge store, facing each other. The puppet on the left is dressed in a green dress with light blue sleeves, the other in a brown, orange outfit with curly hair. Film still from If/When short.

If/When (2025), Stop motion animation short

Director, Executive Producer, Co-Production Designer and more

Explore If/When

In a world where time is not linear, lonely traveller Ollie Quatch glimpses a future without Az; the one person who makes them feel grounded. Defying fate, they risk everything to hold onto love, questioning whether connection can survive when time itself refuses to stand still.

Film poster from If/When short film. View from inside a yellow and blue fridge door opening, showing four puppets falling from the purple sky, with the words 'If/When' as the title in yellow.

  • "Courtney’s work has a distinct sense of heart and intention behind it - there’s something genuinely magical in how her ideas connect with audiences. Thoughtful, dedicated, and deeply respectful of the craft and the people she works with, she creates a process that is both creatively challenging and genuinely supportive - she is a true creative gem!"

    —Chrysoulla Markoulli, Composer and Sound Designer, If/When

  • "Everything from the characters cultural background, language, clothing and dialogue was discussed with me to ensure authenticity. There are far and few spaces in the creative industry these days where artists feel safe enough to voice their opinions. I’m grateful that Courtney provided that every step of the way. I would work with her 10 times over."

    —Almitra Mavalvala, Voice Actor, If/When

  • "Courtney brought extraordinary artistic discipline and vision while never losing sight of If/When's deeply human emotional core. I was continually impressed by how faithfully she realised the scope and ambition of the original script while navigating a production of this scale. Courtney was collaborative and open to creative discussion, ensuring my contributions as the writer continued to shape the film as it evolved."

    —Richie Black, Writer, If/When

  • "On If/When I saw firsthand how Courtney led with both artistic excellence and earnest collaboration. She is a remarkable creative who can balance executing her vision whilst managing a team and a variety of priorities. Courtney works well under pressure, is adaptable and her strong work ethic inspires those around her. I was impressed by her dedication to the craft and kind nature."

    —Emma Vranjes, Associate Producer, If/When

luna and the brain tuna

A man wearing a tuna-inspired puppet head mask and a white suit costume, sitting on an orange couch that is in a dark underwater-themed setting with coral decorations and an industrial-style lamp. Film still from Luna and the Brain Tuna short.

Luna and the Brain Tuna (2024), Live-action short film with puppetry

Co-Production Designer

View project

Leo has got something important to discuss with his 8-year-old daughter; he's got a brain tumour. But when Luna mishears "brain tumour" as "brain tuna," her imagination transforms devastating news into a fantastical underwater adventure that helps her father face the impossible alongside her.

A silver tray with a lit yellow candle and a lemon on a blue surface.

the messy formist

Not every idea becomes a film. Some become objects.

TMF is my objects studio exploring how form shapes your behaviour. With architecturally inspired candles and thoughtfully designed tools to help you slow down, focus and reconnect with your creative process.

Explore the studio
Two decorative candles shaped like pinecones, one white and one beige, sit on a reflective surface against a light background.

designed with purpose

TMF creates artisan hand-sculpted objects that sit between function and form. Functional forms for focus designed to help you begin, settle into, and finish meaningful work. Each form draws from both the built world, and what nature designed without us. Borrowing, layering, and reimagining, to bring the beauty of our world to your door.

  • A group of drawn doctor puppets gathered around a table in an operating room, performing surgery on a patient with an ocean scene visible through a window in the background. Film still from If/When short film.

    If/When

    Stop-motion animation short

    Director, Producer, Co-Production Designer and more

  • Close-up of a man with dark hair, red eyeshadow, wearing a suit, looking to the right, with a blurred background of women in black outfits playing trumpets against a red backdrop. Film still from Luna and the Brain Tuna short film.

    Luna and the Brain Tuna

    Live action short

    Co-Production Designer

  • Miniature scene of two handmade puppet figures, a man and a woman, on a seesaw in a garden setting with flowers, against an impressionistic background. Film still from Theo & Celeste short film.

    Theo & Celeste

    Stop-motion animation & live action short

    Co-Production Designer

  • A figurine puppet of a man with brown hair in a slicked-back style, wearing a dark jacket, stands facing away at sunset over ocean, with the sky painted in soft pastel hues and the ocean in the background. Film still from Cnut short film.

    Cnut

    Stop-motion animation short

    Director, Executive Producer, Co-Production Designer

  • A scene from a historical or period film showing three people standing in front of a window with a cross above it, in a room with a table set with cups, bowls, and food, while several children sit at the table. Australian short film Finding Jedda.

    Finding Jedda

    Live action short

    Production Designer

  • A man puppet lying face-down on a sandy surface, wearing a dark green jacket, trousers, and brown leather shoes. Their head is turned to the side with brown hair visible. There is a small hat and a phone near them on the sand. Film Still from Cnut.

    Cnut

    Stop-motion animation short

    Director, Executive Producer, Co-Production Designer

  • A woman dressed in yellow rain gear, including a hat and gloves, stands in front of a stormy sky with fake cardboard lightning and dark clouds. Film still from Luna and the Brain Tuna short film.

    Luna and the Brain Tuna

    Live action short

    Co-Production Designer

  • If/When

    Stop-motion animation short

    Director, Producer, Co-Production Designer and more

  • Two women in vintage swimsuits and sun hats relaxing outdoors, one on a lounge chair reading, the other standing, with a patterned umbrella in the foreground. They are in an enclosure. Film still from The End, The Beginning short film.

    The End, The Beginning

    Live action & stop-motion animation short

    Co-Production Designer

  • A woman with multi-coloured painted face and hair, dressed in a blue and yellow jacket and shirt, sitting at a table with a colourful background. The table has a vase and flower. All hand painted. Film still from Theo & Celeste short film.

    Theo & Celeste

    Stop-motion animation & live action short

    Co-Production Designer

@courtneywestbrookofficial

View fullsize 🎬 Today’s the day! If you’re in Perth, you can catch If/When as part of the Animation Showcase Pt 1 at the Revelation Perth International Film Festival. 📍 Perth Backlot 🗓️ Today, Saturday 18 July 🕑 2:00pm 🎟️ Don’t have ticke
View fullsize Closing Night ✨🏳️‍🌈 Courtney Westbrook (Director/Executive Producer) and Emma Vranges (Associate Producer) of If/When attended the Queer Screens Mardi Gras Film Festival Closing Night Gala and After Party at Event Cinemas George Street, Sydney
View fullsize Tuesday night was one to remember. ✨ If/When screened as a Finalist in My Queer Career: Australian Shorts at the Queer Screens Mardi Gras Film Festival, and what an honour it was to be in that room. Congratulations to all of the winners on the nigh
View fullsize Sydney, I’m here. ❤️🎬 My day one at Queer Screen’s Mardi Gras Film Festival was full in the best way. @queerscreen The day was spent at The Red Rattler Theatre, first up with the Comedy Shorts screening. So many bold, generous stories
View fullsize New headshots 📸 These were taken during a shoot with the wonderful Frankie The Creative ✨ @createwithfrankie I’ll be sharing more from this shoot soon, and alongside that, more from my new product-based business The Messy Formist. If you&rs
View fullsize Back in March I had the pleasure of going with the lovely Maddy Kotz @madza194 to Adelaide Botanic Garden for Chihuly Nights! 🌌✨ @adelaide_botanical_garden @chihulystudio Dale Chihuly is one of the most celebrated contemporary glass artists in the