By Oscar Woods 
Mungo Denison might not be a name that appears frequently in tabloids, but his work has lit up skies across the globe and captured the attention of millions.
As co-founder and director of Skymagic, one of the world’s leading drone light show companies, Denison has transformed the way audiences experience live entertainment. From the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations at Buckingham Palace to massive displays over Sydney Harbour, his company has pioneered aerial performances that blend technology with storytelling in ways previously unimaginable.
Table of Contents
The Man Behind the Spectacle
Based between Singapore and the United Kingdom, Denison keeps a remarkably low profile despite his professional achievements. He’s also managing director of New Substance, a creative production studio that has delivered large scale performances internationally.
His journey into drone technology began back in 2012 when he identified the potential for drones in the entertainment market. But it wasn’t a smooth start. According to Denison himself, speaking to Coverdrone, the team had quite a few false starts and spent years doing extensive research and development before arriving at a solution that worked.
The breakthrough came in 2015 when Skymagic held its first show at the base of Mount Fuji. That two minute film generated over one million views and announced their arrival to the market. A year later, they landed their first commercial gig with a 40 drone display at the opening ceremony for Dubai Parks and Resorts.
Breaking Records and Making Headlines
Since those early days, Skymagic has grown exponentially. The company now operates a fleet of more than 1,000 drones and has performed in over 20 territories worldwide, from the UK to the UAE, Japan, Morocco, Switzerland, and Azerbaijan. They’ve logged over 11,000 flying hours and set multiple world records.
Their most notable performance came during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee concert in June 2022. The 400 drone show above Buckingham Palace, featuring a giant corgi, teapot, and the Queen’s handbag, was watched by a TV audience of more than 13 million people in the UK alone. The exposure was unprecedented for the small company.
Just weeks later, Skymagic delivered the UK’s largest ever drone light show with 600 drones beaming images from Star Trek, Paw Patrol, and SpongeBob SquarePants into the night sky near Birmingham. The display was close to 200 metres wide and took months to perfect.
In Sydney, they created the Southern Hemisphere’s largest drone show for Paramount Plus and Vivid Sydney 2022, with 600 drones performing over Sydney Harbour. The company has also delivered consecutive London New Year’s Eve displays and a special performance for Chelsea FC following their Champions League victory.
Privacy and Family Life
Despite his success in the events industry, Denison maintains an intensely private personal life. He’s married to Charlotte Bellamy, the British actress best known for playing Laurel Thomas in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale since 2002. Bellamy won the British Soap Award for Best Actress in 2017.
The couple met when Charlotte was just 18 years old, and their relationship has remained strong for more than two decades. They tied the knot in May 2012 in an incredibly intimate ceremony that only their children and mothers attended. The wedding was so private that their three kids only found out that morning during breakfast.
Together, Mungo and Charlotte have three children: Sunnie, born in September 2004; Herbie, born in 2007; and their daughter Teddie Boo Florence, born in October 2009. The family lives a peaceful life in Yorkshire, far removed from the spotlight that often follows Charlotte’s television work.
The Technology Behind the Magic
What sets Skymagic apart is their proprietary software and hardware system. All of their technology is developed in house, giving them control over every aspect of their performances. This means there’s technically no limit to the number of drones they can deploy, though practical considerations like take off area requirements play a role in metropolitan locations.
The company offers different types of performances, including their standard LED equipped drones visible from 2 kilometres away, and a PyroDrone fleet that broke the Guinness World Record for the most unmanned aerial vehicles launching fireworks simultaneously. They’re also exploring laser technology, both mounted on drones and fired from the ground.
Creating these shows involves two phases. The pre production phase includes everything from contracting through to design and choreography using their 3D animation suite. The live phase brings it all together with a small crew. Remarkably, some of their largest shows have been executed by teams of just four people.
Balancing Success and Privacy
Mungo Denison represents a fascinating contrast in modern professional life. While his work demands international attention and has been viewed by billions globally, he’s managed to maintain personal privacy in an age where social media often dominates.
He rarely gives interviews and doesn’t seek public recognition for his achievements. This approach has not only protected his family from unnecessary media scrutiny but has also allowed his work to speak for itself. His success with Skymagic demonstrates that professional achievement doesn’t require constant public validation.
The company continues to expand its reach, with discussions underway with major festival operators including Coachella and Tomorrowland about potential shows. As drone technology advances and regulations evolve, Skymagic is positioned to remain at the forefront of this growing industry.
Looking Forward
As the events industry continues to evolve, drone light shows have become increasingly popular alternatives to traditional fireworks displays. They’re more environmentally friendly, offer greater creative flexibility, and can be programmed to tell specific stories or showcase brand imagery with precision.
For Mungo Denison and Skymagic, the future looks bright. With proven track records at some of the world’s most prestigious events and ongoing innovation in drone and laser technology, they’re helping define what’s possible in live entertainment.
What makes Denison’s story particularly compelling is how he’s built a globally recognized company while maintaining the values of privacy and family that matter most to him. In a world that often conflates visibility with success, he’s proven there’s another path forward.