Firstly Thank you guys for all your comments and I will address each one individually, secondly I'm making improvements to my portfolio as we speak, as for the common denominator you all highlighted; the lighting, the standard dominant directional lighting really did it no justice and made it all feel very mute so that's first port of call. Lastly I do value all your opinions greatly and thank you for taking the time out of your days to look at my work and pass on your professional insight.
e-freak: I'm using unreal now, I want to get into Cryengine 3 but I concentrated my efforts on unreal because I know that engine better, but now there's more documentation for it I think I'll go back and give it another go, thank you.
Warby: It is grey your absolutely right and the specular maps need highlighting more which is what I aim to. Also the pipes are of very low tessellation and it will be fixed, thank you.
HP: Some were developed on the course, others have been created after the course. Originally with the factory scene I was going for an overcast grim day in Soviet country, but I realise its what I wanted it to be not what it needed to be, the simplest things can be often forgotten, but never again.
I know my work has no artistic value and it kills me a little inside really, I come from a very artistic background and have a real passion for games, that's why I wanted to do this, its going to take me time to really find my stride and create something I can really be proud of, but what I was taught on my course is for entry level jobs is to demonstrate the ability to use the fundamentals effectively and consistently and as I gain experience and confidence, grow outwards. However I do appreciate what your saying and I need to apply more of my own taste to my work, thank you.
PogoP: I made a bit of a noob error with my normal maps just throwing them through Crazybump like that, I know they need more care which I didn't go back and correct when I had the time, never again. I was going for a grimy feel but it has been overkill and I'm now taking the time to tone down, which in turn has helped to brighten the whole scene up, thank you.
I hope if you have time over the coming days, you'll stop by and comment on any work in progress that you might have missed the first time or noticed anything new that might be useful for any tinkering or reworking, I more than welcome it.
Take care
oli