Dean Chalkley – Photographer, Filmmaker, DJ

Dean Chalkley is a renowned photographer who, for over three decades, has created authentic and powerful imagery across music, fashion, and culture, capturing everyone from underground pioneers to pop stars with an eye rooted in subcultures like Mod, Northern Soul, and Rudeboy scenes.

Originally trained as a tailor, his deep understanding of personal style and cultural movements has informed projects such as Return of the Rudeboy and Young Souls, while his experimental works like New Perspectives continue to push boundaries.

Dean has photographed some of the most exciting names in the contemporary music world – including Noel Gallagher, Amy Winehouse, Suede, Boy George, Dizzie Rascal, Jay-Z, Richard Ashcroft, and, of course, Paul Weller !

Over the years, he has photographed Paul many times for magazines and supplements  like The Sunday Times Magazine, Uncut, and NME, for his record label, his collaborative clothing range with Sunspel in 2021, and most recently for the Find El Dorado album project.

A lifelong Mod himself, Dean brings an insider’s understanding of style, attitude, and cultural nuance to every image he creates.

Click your preferred podcast platform to listen…

2025 – Back in Ibiza – Dean Chalkley

Back in Ibiza 1998–2003 by Dean Chalkley captures the golden era of Ibiza’s club scene with stunning photos from the late ’90s and early 2000s. With quotes from iconic figures like Bez, Shaun Ryder, Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy, and DJ Paulette, this collection offers a raw, nostalgic glimpse into the island’s vibrant party culture before social media changed everything. Dean’s archive, amassed while working for Mixmag, is a must-see for fans of dance music and nightlife history. You can get your copy here.

2025 – Find El Dorado – Paul Weller

Dean has taken a series of shots for promotion of the new Paul Weller album – Find El Dorado. Taken on the same day that I interviewed Paul again for my upcoming book. Look out for a shared photo in the future from that session !

2024 – Big Issue – Paul Weller and Johnny Harris

In 2024, Paul Weller and actor/director Johnny Harris teamed up to shine a light on homelessness, speaking exclusively with The Big Issue and offering some harsh words for UK politicians. The powerful images of Paul and Johnny were captured by Dean, supporting the vital work The Big Issue continues to do to help those facing homelessness.

2024 – The Observer

Dean photographed Paul Weller in Soho for The Observer Magazine, with the shoot taking place on one of the roof terraces at the Century Club on Shaftesbury Avenue. For both Dean and Paul, who share a deep appreciation of London and especially Soho, this location held extra significance. The area is steeped in 60s Mod history, from Colin MacInnes’s Absolute Beginners and Carnaby Street to The Small World of Sammy Lee, with iconic venues like The Flamingo, The Scene Club, and The Marquee all just a stone’s throw away. The feature included an interview with Paul by Miranda Sawyer, you can read it here.

2022 – Sunspel

Paul Weller collaborated with the great fashion brand Sunspel, releasing their Autumn/Winter ’22 collection following the success of his first in Spring 2021. Dean worked closely with Sunspel’s creative director David Telfer and creative agency Studio Small to develop the campaign.

2021 – Radio Times

In June 2021, the Radio Times featured images from Dean’s ‘Black Barn’ photoshoot with Paul Weller in an issue focused on music, highlighting Paul’s upcoming classical fusion concert.

2019 – Sunday Times Magazine

Dean photographed Paul at Black Barn for The Sunday Times Magazine. The accompanying article by Krissi Murison is an illuminating read, revealing rarely seen sides of Paul as he talks about his music, family, and his views on how society and attitudes are evolving. To go to The Sunday Time page click here 

2015 – The Observer Magazine

This shoot was the fifth time that Dean had photographed Paul. The feature attracted a lot of interest, with the Paul discussing his attitudes at the time – politics, family life, mindset, and his deep passion for music and where it was taking him – in an article by Miranda Sawyer. Dean explained that shoot was significant for many reasons, not least because Paul had long influenced his perspective on life and taste, both musically and in fashion, with his steadfast attitude setting him apart from others.

2012 – 60 Years of NME

To celebrate NME’s 60th birthday – its golden jubilee – the New Musical Express published eight different covers in one week, four of which were shot by Dean.

2012 – When Weller Met Miles Kane

2010 – New Musical Express

In November 2010, Dean’s photograph of Paul Weller appeared on the cover of NME, where inside Paul reflected on his musical past, his triumphant year, and confirmed he had no plans to quit touring or recording, saying, “If I can still stand up, I will be [touring], definitely. I don’t think there’s any end to it, until I drop dead.”

2010 – Wake Up the Nation

2008 – Uncut Magazine – Dean’s first Weller shoot…

Here’s the New Perspectives film that Dean talked about too

Here’s the New Perspectives film that Dean talked about too

Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the Thames Group presents ‘The Scene By The Sea’, a multi-discipline exhibition featuring work by over 30 artists and special guests including; Billy Bragg, Phill Jupitus, Wilko Johnson, Ian Dury, Vivian Stanshall and more.

Artists such as renowned painter Simon Monk, award winning sculptor Anne Schwegmann-Fielding, portrait painter Victoria Sills, photographer Dean Chalkley and assemblage artist Catriona Faulkner have responded to locations plotted on a map created by author/musician Will Birch, artist and former ‘Clash’ right-hand man, Kosmo Vinyl together with graphic artist Jules Balme.

The map and resulting exhibition is an exploration of many of the hippest clubs, pubs, discotheques, dancehalls, coffee bars, music shops and fashion boutiques that were pivotal in helping to create Southend’s rich pop culture heritage.