People often ask what my work means. I prefer to ask what it unlocks.
Paul Dunkerley
Paul Dunkerley
bio
" My work doesn’t tell stories — it unlocks them "
Paul Dunkerley is a an award winning British sculptural artist whose work explores abstraction, symbolism, and the stories we see in shape and form. Working primarily in clay, plaster, resin, and wood, Paul creates original pieces that feel both contemporary and grounded in lived experience.
From textured wall sculptures to made-to-order commissions, each work invites interpretation — not through overt meaning, but through instinct, touch, and personal connection.
His signature "Soundboards" were first seen on the BBC’s Home Is Where The Art Is, and his practice has since grown to include major international exhibitions and bespoke collector works.
Based in the UK, Paul operates from Beyond Canvas, his framing showroom and art studio, where each sculpture is conceived, built, and shipped by hand.
statement
“It’s not about what the piece means. It’s about what it stirs in you "
I’ve always been drawn to forms that speak without words — abstract shapes, quiet symbols, simple materials. My work begins with a feeling or a memory and takes shape through a hands-on, adaptive process using clay, resin, wood, plaster, and repurposed materials. It’s a balance of instinct and intention.
Much of what I make sits in the space between storytelling and sculpture. The Soundboards are a good example — each one is based on personal narratives, translated into sculptural arrangements. They're not replicas, they're remade originals — like a song played again with the same emotion but a slightly different rhythm.
Other series, like Pareidolia or Fluidessence, ask the viewer to finish the piece — to spot a story, a figure, or simply a feeling. I don't tell people what to see. I just try to make forms that are worth looking at more than once.
I work from my studio in Cheshire, where I also run Beyond Canvas — a space for art, framing, and conversation.
recognition
beyond canvas
Paul’s work has been included in various international exhibitions including the Galleria Azur Berlin, the 60th International Biennale in Venice and throughout the UK. In recent years he has been recognised by the Luxembourg Art Prize, nominated for 'Emerging International Artist' by the Visual Arts Association of the UK, won the 2024 Three Counties Open Art Prize and was featured on the BBC’s "Home Is Where the Art Is".
I try to give form to what is carried inside. My work is intuitive, symbolic, and often shaped by memory and instinct more than logic.
beyond canvas
beyond canvas
"For over two decades, I’ve explored the expressive power of form, symbolism, and abstraction through sculptural art. My journey has taken me from TV to international exhibitions in Venice, Berlin, Paris, and New York to a more personal exploration of how art can offer meaning, healing, and connection.
In 2025, I launched Beyond Canvas Art & Framing in Nantwich—a working showroom where original art meets expert craftsmanship. More than shop and far from a gallery, it’s a space where clients can experience unique, contemporary art up close, discuss commissions, enhance them with expertly crafted frames and collaborate on bespoke pieces that truly belong in their lives.
Whether you're seeking a one-of-a-kind artwork, thoughtful framing for something you treasure, or a conversation about bringing your vision to life—I’d love to welcome you