Dean Chalkley

Dean Chalkley (born 2 April 1968) is a British photographer from Southend-on-Sea.

Dean Chalkley's first years were spent on a farm in Essex where his parents were labourers.

At the age of seven the family moved to Southend-on-Sea where he eventually attended Fairfax High School for boys, in Westcliff-on-Sea.

In the 1980s, Chalkley described himself as having been "...a hardened mod, totally into scooters, dressing flamboyantly, in cravats and so on."

Towards the late 1980s, acid house coincided with his discovery of photography, although initially after leaving school his interest had been in fashion, especially the type influenced by music.

He trained for and became a bespoke trouser maker for a couple of years but on realising the debt involved in setting up shop, he decided to become a civil servant and remained working as one for seven years.

During this time, the Civil Service sent him on an A-Level course in photography, since it was applicable to his work there.

This in turn led to a photography degree at Blackpool and The Fylde College.

On completing his degree course he moved to London and assisted two notable photographers, Malcolm Venville and afterwards Seamus Ryan, whom he assisted full-time for a period of about 18 months.

It was during Chalkley's Degree that he first starting shooting for Dazed & Confused, the first assignment being to shoot Helen Chadwick.

This was when it was still based in Brewer Street; and under the founding editors Jefferson Hack and Rankin, as well as Art Director Mark Saunders.

With his first spotlight feature on his photography in issue 13 which was followed by Chalkley's coverage of bands such as Solar Race in issue 17, Darren Almond in 1997, Angus Farhurst and many more YBA for Issue 34 and beyond including Sam Taylor Wood, Mat Collshaw, Douglas Gordon, Cerith Wyn Evan, Gillian Wearing.

Chalkley also became a regular contributor to Mixmag, shooting the covers and inside features, travelling to Iceland with dance duo Propellerheads for example, and spending lengths of time covering club-season Ibiza.

Chalkley's work has worked in various fields including editorial and commercial advertising however he has always kept up with his own projects where he has explored his own areas of interest such as Music, Fashion and Art.

These areas of study have produced both photographic bodies of work as well as Moving image pieces.

Chalkley's film Strip was accepted into and screened at several short film festivals around the world, and won the Kinofilm 2000 Best Experimental Short Film award at the International Short Film Festival in Manchester.

After growing less satisfied with the advertising work, he and his (then) agent Yogi decided to part ways.

Chalkley says of the departure, "…the editorial side that I liked, and the fuel that I needed, was being overwhelmed by jobs that were a little too broad."

After spending a year without an agent, Chalkley met photographer Paul Rider who introduced him to his wife Adele Rider, agent and now director of the photographer's agency, Shoot.

Chalkley started shooting for the New Musical Express magazine in 2001, with The Verve's Richard Ashcroft his first subject.

Having been introduced to the magazine by current NME Photography Director Marian Paterson, he continues to shoot covers and features for the magazine today.

Dizzee Rascal's Mercury Prize winning album Boy in da Corner (2003)

This has proved a successful working partnership with Chalkley winning the Portrait Photographer of the Year at the 2006 Picture Editors' Awards after having submitted his portrait of Oasis singer songwriter Noel Gallagher, a shoot commissioned by the NME.

Lily Allen's single "LDN" (2006)

The Horrors' single artwork for "Gloves" (2007)

New Young Pony Club's Fantastic Playroom (2007)

Tinchy Stryder's Third Strike (2010)

Paul Weller's album Wake Up The Nation

He has also been shooting some fashion work for client's such as Sport and Street magazine and Levi's and likes to shoot for The Observer magazine, for which he has photographed actors such as Rhys Ifans, Dominic West, Rupert Everett, Bond girl Eva Green, former model and author Sophie Dahl, Clémence Poésy in 2010, Holly Willoughby and Jack Monroe in 2014.

In July 2012, Chalkley signed to the photographic agency, Skinny Dip.

The relaunch of Chalkley's "New Look" website in 2012 saw the inclusion of a new fashion section, clearly displaying Chalkley's extensive sartorial side.

With projects and campaigns for Hush Puppies, Ray-Ban, Beatrix Ong, Levis, New Balance, The Observer, The New British and Cath Kidston.

Chalkley has also returned to shooting "fun and edgy" advertising work such as the Keep Britain Tidy campaign.

He has shot amongst many others, Ian Brown, Pete Doherty, The White Stripes, Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, Kings of Leon, Amy Winehouse, Hollywood actress and singer Scarlett Johansson, American rapper and entrepreneur Jay-Z, and Simon Cowell, British entrepreneur, music executive, television producer and celebrity In 2013, Chalkley took pictures that became the covers for the NME, including Beady Eye, Daft Punk, The Vaccines, The NME Awards 2013 and Foals.

As well as shooting within the music genre for magazines such the NME and Uncut, Chalkley also undertakes commissions from record companies, shooting artist's and band's album's and single's artwork along with their press photography.

He has, to name but a few, shot for XL Recordings, Sony, Island Records and Acid Jazz providing pictures for the following:

Chalkley shot Jake Bugg for an article by Krissi Murison for The Times published on 21 September 2014.

Chalkley has been a supporter and contributor of The New British Magazine since 'Issue Zero' and was present during the launch of the App version of the publication at the Apple store taking part in a Q&A at the flagship UK store on 4 December 2014.

Fellow contributors of the magazine have been Neville Brody, Nick Knight and Magnum Photographers.

For the 'Legacy' issue Chalkley contributed a large project consisting of a photographic essay and short film Arena.