People
The programmers, composers, and artists who made Hewson's catalogue. Developer credits live here; history context is in History; game credits are in Catalogue.
Founders & Management
Andrew Hewson
Founder & PublisherAndrew Hewson purchased a Sinclair ZX80 in 1980, which led to the founding of Hewson Consultants. He ran the company through its commercial peak and wind-up in 1991, subsequently moving to 21st Century Entertainment. He documented the Hewson story in multiple interviews including a comprehensive video publisher interview in January 2025 and the joint Blackpool interview with his son Rob in October 2025.
Rob Hewson
Director & DeveloperAndrew Hewson's son, Rob joined Hewson Consultants and contributed to the company's operations. He participated in The Retro Hour EP 41 podcast discussing the company history and the transition to 21st Century Entertainment, and appeared jointly with Andrew in the Blackpool 2025 exclusive interview.
Graftgold - Developers
Graftgold, the studio founded by Andrew Braybrook and Steve Turner in Stroud, Gloucestershire, was Hewson's defining development partnership. The Graftgold relationship was central to Hewson's commercial success in the mid-1980s. Graftgold developed; Hewson published.
Andrew Braybrook
Programmer — GraftgoldCo-founder of Graftgold with Steve Turner. Braybrook wrote Paradroid (1985), Gribbly's Day Out (1985), Uridium (1986), and Uridium+ (1987) for Hewson. His Uridium won the 1986 Golden Joystick Award for Best Arcade-Style Game. Paradroid is widely considered one of the finest C64 games ever written — a hybrid of shoot 'em up and strategy that has rarely been equalled. His technical standards and game design philosophy set the tone for the Hewson golden period.
Steve Turner
Programmer — GraftgoldCo-founder of Graftgold with Andrew Braybrook. Turner's Hewson contributions include Quazatron (1986, ZX Spectrum), Ranarama (1987), Alleykat (1986), and Zynaps (1987). Quazatron translated the Paradroid concept into isometric perspective for the Spectrum — a remarkable technical achievement on the platform. Turner also composed the C64 SID music for Zynaps.
In-House Developers
Raf Cecco
Programmer — In-HouseRaf Cecco joined Hewson as an in-house developer and became the company's most technically accomplished programmer of the late period. His credits include Exolon (1987), Cybernoid: The Fighting Machine (1988), Cybernoid II: The Revenge (1988), and Stormlord (1989). His development methods and working relationship with Hewson are documented in a developer diary in CRASH magazine issue 53 — a primary source for understanding both his approach and the Hewson working culture.
John Phillips
ProgrammerJohn Phillips programmed Nebulus (1987) — the tower-climbing platform puzzle that demonstrated a rotating cylindrical 3D effect remarkable for its era. Known as Tower Toppler in North America. The engine proved scalable across multiple platforms including C64, ZX Spectrum, Amiga, Atari ST, and the Game Boy.
Music Composers
Jeroen Tel
Composer — C64 SIDDutch composer Jeroen Tel scored Cybernoid: The Fighting Machine (1988), Cybernoid II: The Revenge (1988), and Eliminator (1988) for Hewson. His Cybernoid II SID is among the most celebrated compositions in C64 history — later performed live by the Commodore 64 orchestra. The Tel/Cecco collaboration defined the late Hewson sonic identity. His full SID catalogue is indexed in the High Voltage SID Collection (HVSC).
Steve Turner
Composer — C64 SIDIn addition to his programming role at Graftgold, Steve Turner composed the C64 SID music for Uridium — the dark, driving score that runs beneath Braybrook's dreadnought shooter. Turner's score is credited in the HVSC and contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere.
Steve Jones
Composer — C64 SIDSteve Jones contributed to the C64 music and conversion for Cybernoid and to the Exolon SID score. Credits require cross-reference with the HVSC and MobyGames for full verification. Jones was part of the broader community of composers working in the Hewson orbit during the late 1980s.
Ben Daglish
Composer — C64 SIDProlific C64 composer Ben Daglish scored Firelord (1986) for Hewson. His Celtic-inflected SID score matches the fantasy atmosphere of the game's Arthurian-era setting. Daglish was one of the most versatile composers of the C64 era, adapting his style to a wide range of genres and atmospheres.
Martin Walker (Read)
Composer — C64 SIDMartin Walker — credited as Read in the HVSC — composed the C64 SID music for Exolon (1987). The Exolon score, shared credit with Steve Jones depending on version, contributes to the game's tense run-and-gun atmosphere. Full credit attribution requires HVSC cross-reference.
Mark Gray
Composer — C64 SIDMark Gray composed the C64 SID music for Deliverance: Stormlord II (1990) — the sequel to Raf Cecco's Stormlord. Gray's score anchors the late Hewson musical palette; credits are verified in the HVSC composer database.
Steve Weston
Inlay ArtistSteve Weston contributed inlay artwork for Hewson Consultants titles. The inlay art was the primary visual identity for cassette and disk releases — the first thing a player saw when picking up a Hewson title from a shop rack. Weston's work contributed to the premium look that differentiated Hewson from lower-tier publishers.