SKIPTON-based Peel-X, based in Skipton, North Yorkshire, is making its mark on the world of immersive tech, virtual and augmented reality with three wins and nominations in a number of major awards, for its ground-breaking work in digital storytelling.

Uist Unearthed Project (Augmented Reality App and Mixed Media Touring Exhibition) triumphed with three awards - Archaeological Innovation, Best Public Dissemination or Presentation of Archaeology and Outstanding Achievement Award Winner - at the prestigious Council for British Archaeological Achievement Awards 2022, held at Dublin Castle on November 29 .

Peel-X, managing director, Jessica Wright, said: “It’s a really exciting time for Peel-X, the world of immersive tech and digital storytelling, bringing together Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR). We can now take the user beyond imagination into virtual reality that can skip across time and create a multi-sensory experience.

“Our multi-disciplinary team of animators, 3D modellers, developers and writers are helping clients to break exciting new ground, risk-free and in total confidence, as they take their first step into immersive technologies.”

Peel-X created the Uist Unearthed mobile app which allows visitors to experience some of the Western Isles’ most significant ancient sites, along the Hebridean Way. Reconstructing important archaeological sites using AR, 3D models, animations and audio, visitors can enjoy an immersive experience of how these sites would have looked over 3,500 years ago.

Peel-X technology and innovation also received global recognition recently as Dublin City’s Smart Tourism Programme took the Best Digital & Innovation Award, at the Global Tourism Innovation Awards 2022, held in Seville.

The award was given in recognition of its use of smart technology, innovation and data analysis. Peel-X conceptualized, visualized and realised the council’s flagship Dublin Discovery Trails Augmented Reality app, part of its Smart Tourism Programme.

The company has also been shortlisted for two categories in the Children and Young People Now Awards 2022. GameChanger - a programme of educational intervention, featuring immersive learning packages to raise awareness of and prevention of child criminal exploitation – in the Arts & Culture and Partnership Working categories.

Peel-X was also recognised as ‘one of the UKs immersive studios to watch’ when it became one of eight immersive studios invited to take part in a pitch/accelerator programme with Digital Catapult and Niantic, the American software developer, behind reality games such as Ingress and Pokémon Go.