Binty. No probs! Everyone seems to be only a degree or two away from eachother in the games industry.

Thanks, Lychee, btw.

Just being nosey here.

I'm a self employed 3D design draughtsman. Work in the oil industry, mechanical background. I'm a bit handy with solidworks and inventor.

I am i bit of a game nerd on the side and always secretly wondered what skills would be transferable?

Im guessing its a pretty cut throat industry and the pay may not be stellar.

If you can model, create textures and/or animate in 3D using software such as 3DSMax or Maya, then you can become a 3D artist.
If you like creating environments as well, you can become a level designer. Companies like Ubisoft require level designers to be able to model in 3D whereas other companies I've worked for don't have such requirements but ask that they can code or script.
If you like using software like photoshop, you can become a 2D artist or illustrator (if you can draw)

A good portfolio of your work is what will get you in eventually.

But no, the pay isn't amazing! I'm not sure it could be called a 'cut-throat industry' (no more than any other in these rubbishy times!) Certainly in the UK, it isn't quite as pretty from the inside though.

Check out the usual sites, conceptart.org, polycount etc...

If you can paint up textures and transfer your skills to 3dsm or maya, just build up a portfolio...though worth playing around with zbrush and/or mudbox too these days for the high poly sculpting and normals.

If your good at creating your own textures, very handy, but not many places have pure texture artists, I know Naughty Dog do, but it's rare these days and concept art is even harder to get unless you've a killer portfolio as there seems to be less specific positions for concept art.