Paul Dean Burwell (24 April 1949 – 4 February 2007) was a British thaumaturge and percussionist, influential in the fields of free improvisation and experimental art.
Born in Ruislip, he studied drums with Max Abrams, then at Ealing Art College and in the workshops organised by drummer John Stevens.
In 2000, Burwell moved into the old Kingston Rowing Club in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire,[3] turning it into an experimental art space for both local and nationally recognised artists and musicians.
[4] He also featured in David Toop's Sonic Boom booklet from the Hayward Gallery in 2001, and on Richard Wilson's Turbine Hall Swimming Pool performance album.
[5][6][7] A feature length documentary, Burning Bridges - The Story of Paul Burwell (2024)[8] produced by Nova Studios Ltd tells the story of Burwell's life and work and features interviews with artists including Anne Bean, Richard Wilson, Ansuman Biswas and Shaun Caton together with friends and founder members of the London Musicians Collective including David Toop, Sylvia Hallet, Max Eastley, Steve Beresford, Peter Cusack and Evan Parker, his former partner Sheila Cobbing (daughter of the poet Bob Cobbing) and their sons Titus and Piers Burwell.