Ben Graves

Co-founder & Technical Director, Cheese & Pixels

Full-stack development · Laravel · React Native · AR/VR

Profile

Co-founder and Technical Director of Cheese & Pixels, a Norwich-based creative technology studio crafting bespoke digital experiences, from AR, VR and interactive installations to native mobile apps and games. Together with fellow co-founder Jamie Currie, I lead the studio's technical direction while staying hands-on in delivery, drawing on 20 years' commercial experience as a full-stack developer specialising in Laravel and React Native.

Over that time I've delivered digital products for agencies, startups, cultural organisations and multinational brands, with a strong focus on clean architecture, scalability and close collaboration with creative partners. I work across the full lifecycle, from requirements and architecture through to deployment and long-term support.

Core Skills

Backend

PHP, Laravel, REST APIs, MVC architecture

Frontend

JavaScript, HTML, CSS, modern frontend tooling

Mobile

React Native (iOS & Android)

CMS

Bespoke Laravel CMS solutions

Databases

MySQL

Workflow

Git, Agile team environments, agency delivery

Other

API integrations, content-driven platforms, experiential tech support (AR/VR)

Experience

Co-founder & Technical Director

Cheese & Pixels

Jan 2026 – Present

Co-founded Cheese & Pixels, a Norwich-based creative technology studio, with Jamie Currie after more than a decade working together on immersive experiences, apps, games and installations
Deliver bespoke digital experiences for national and international clients across AR, VR, native mobile apps, interactive installations and mini games
Design and develop custom websites and CMS platforms using PHP and Laravel
Architect flexible CMS solutions for interactive and content-driven experiences
Collaborate with creative partners and clients to deliver production-ready systems
Lead technical direction alongside Jamie Currie, including architecture decisions and hands-on project delivery

Senior Developer

Infinite Form

Apr 2017 – Jan 2026 · 8 yrs 10 mos

Led the development of bespoke websites and content management systems using PHP and Laravel
Built platforms that powered AR and VR applications, as well as experiential and interactive services
Worked closely with creative, production, and technical teams to deliver robust digital solutions
Designed CMS architectures tailored to specific client and project needs
Maintained and evolved long-running platforms with a focus on performance and reliability

Senior Web Developer

bigdog Agency

Jan 2014 – Apr 2017 · 3 yrs 4 mos

Developed websites, email campaigns, and bespoke digital solutions for major multinational brands
Clients included Aviva, Barclays, Mazda, Disney, and Duracell
Collaborated within agency teams to deliver projects under tight deadlines
Built custom CMS features and integrations to meet complex client requirements
Supported both campaign-based and long-term platform work

Freelance Developer

Mobilised Online Ltd

Jun 2011 – Jan 2014 · 2 yrs 7 mos

Worked as a freelance web developer supporting creative agencies in Norwich
Embedded within existing teams to provide additional development capacity
Delivered projects over extended engagements, including a long-term contract with bigdog Agency
This role led to a full-time offer at bigdog following successful project delivery

Web Developer

OneAgency.co

Apr 2008 – May 2011 · 3 yrs 2 mos

Focused primarily on e-commerce website development
Led development of the agency's e-commerce platform
Launched websites for national brands including Euronics, Celotex, and Bennetts Electrical
Worked across frontend and backend features to support online retail requirements

Web Developer

Affinity New Media

Oct 2006 – Apr 2008 · 1 yr 7 mos

Worked on existing websites built on the company's in-house CMS
Added new features and functionality to live client sites
Gained early commercial experience maintaining and extending production systems

Portfolio

Out There Festival App

A mobile-first festival app for Out There Arts, bringing the annual festival experience into a digital platform with event planning, real-time updates and interactive features for festival-goers. Jamie Currie and I built it on our app platform, this time without any need for AR, with design by Andy Fiddy.

Unlock Norwich AR Trail

A location-based AR trail that turns Norwich's streets into interactive stories, overlaying digital narratives and content onto real-world locations. Jamie Currie and I came up with the idea of a reusable platform for creating and running AR trails, and Unlock Norwich was built on it. We've since developed an improved AR trail platform at Cheese & Pixels. Design by Andy Fiddy.

IWM Hall of Remembrance Virtual Platform

A web-based 360-degree virtual platform for Imperial War Museums, recreating the Hall of Remembrance, a gallery conceived after the First World War to honour those who served but never built. Visitors can explore the Hall's intended galleries and view artworks by artists such as Paul Nash and Stanley Spencer. I handled all of the development, with the 3D model of the Hall built by Marcell Rideg.

Virtual Open Day and Applicant Hub

A virtual events platform for the University of East Anglia to support student recruitment during the pandemic. The platform featured interactive content, personalised user journeys, and tools for prospective students to explore facilities, meet staff, and access application resources. I handled all of the front-end and back-end web development, with design by Andy Fiddy.

Callebaut Chocolate WebAR Experience

A tailored augmented reality experience for Callebaut's B2B clients, enabling them to visualise and interact with chocolate products in a virtual environment, helping them make decisions and showcasing the products in an engaging, novel way. I handled the front-end development, with design by Andy Fiddy.

Pringles WebAR Experience

A web-based AR penalty shoot-out game for Kellogg's Pringles, launched during Euro 2020. The game featured an animated footballer, ball, and pitch with celebratory animations and crowd audio, accessible directly via QR code with no app download required. I handled the development, with 3D modelling by Mareike Rieger.