One of Britain's most acclaimed documentary filmmakers, Dineen is known for her intimate and probing portraits of British individuals and institutions.
[2] She attended the Bournville School of Art and then studied Photography, Film and Television at the London College of Printing.
She went on to the National Film and Television School,[3] where she studied documentary under Herb Di Gioia and Colin Young, achieving recognition for her 1987 debut Home from the Hill.
[6] This film, which dealt with the themes of colonialism, international development, and the end of the British Empire, was picked up by BBC Two for Eddie Mirzoeff's 40 Minutes series, nominated for a BAFTA and shown in 22 other countries.
"Her camera watches faces, conversations and behaviour patterns with a seemingly incurious objectivity, allowing her subjects to unveil their secret fears and frustrations".