Alex Dunning

There are not many people who go from child actor to advertising creative to film director, but Alex Dunning is one of the few.

While starring as a powder monkey on ITV’s Hornblower at the age of 12, Alex got his first glimpse of what life in front and behind the camera is like. The experience of filming on a pirate ship at Pinewood Studios was, in his words, ‘pretty cool’.

After studying advertising at university, Alex became an art director, spending ten years working for some of the best agencies in London. Awards were won. But directing was always his true north, and so, keeping a promise to himself, shortly after turning 30 he returned to set - this time in command of the ship.

Alex’s work blends his photographic eye for detail with natural and nuanced performances, creating beautiful films that tell compelling and relatable stories with a richly cinematic and empathetic quality. Whether with shorts or commercials, Alex continues to make waves (sailing analogies over, we promise).