About Us
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
Welcome to our enchanting world of high-quality magical decorative items! Founded by Joshua from his garage in Exeter, our small business is steadily growing, driven by a passion craftsmanship and creativity. Explore our unique collection and bring a touch of magic to your home!
Our Story
Old World Magic began as a family-run venture, founded by brothers Joshua and Samuel Dunlop.
Joshua, a professional concept artist with a passion for world-building, had already built a career working with major entertainment companies. His work in creature design on his personal project 'Pokémon Zoology' gained international recognition, where he blended natural history illustration with fantasy to bring beloved creatures to life as if they existed in the real world. Over the years, Josh contributed his artistry to several leading studios such as Disney, Netflix and the Natural History Museum, honing his skills in visual storytelling, design, and immersive world creation.
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Together with his brother Samuel, decided to channel that experience into a shared dream: creating Old World Magic, a place where artistry, craftsmanship, and storytelling merge to bring enchantment into people’s lives.
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Their father, Ralph, soon joined in, contributing his craftsmanship by hand-carving and finishing custom wooden wands, each one imbued with its own character.
Willow, Josh’s wife, became an essential part of Old World Magic as it grew, helping to keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes. From supporting the day-to-day organisation of the business to travelling to events, setting up stalls, and handling sales, Willow plays a steady, hands-on role wherever she’s needed. Her calm presence, reliability, and warmth help balance the creative chaos, ensuring both the business and the people behind it are supported.
As the business grew, Sam Elliot entered the team, and combined with Joshua's 3D sculpting abilities, brought a new dimension of creativity with his pioneering use of 3D sculpting and printing techniques, allowing OWM to craft brand new, highly detailed, collectible magical artefacts.
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What began as two brothers’ vision has grown into a atelier of imagination and craft, uniting traditional techniques with modern artistry to celebrate wonder, storytelling, and magic.
We can't wait to see what comes next!
Joshua Dunlop
Founder, Creator & Art Director
Joshua Dunlop is the original creator and owner of Old World Magic.
A professional artist with years of experience in creature design, fantasy world building, and handcrafted props, Joshua oversees the creative direction of the entire brand.
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He designs and creates many of the products sold through Old World Magic, including handmade potions, fantasy creature models, and a wide range of magical artefacts. His work blends traditional craftsmanship with professional artistic techniques, drawing inspiration from folklore, fantasy, and natural history.
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Joshua’s background as a professional artist ensures that every product is grounded in strong design, attention to detail, and storytelling, transforming decorative objects into pieces that feel as though they belong in a living, breathing fantasy world.
Samuel Dunlop
Sales & Design
Samuel Dunlop was the original designer and creator of the Old World Magic potion range, laying the foundations for many of the staple designs still sold today. His early concepts helped define the visual identity and character of the potions, blending fantasy aesthetics with a grounded, handcrafted feel.
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Alongside his creative contributions, Samuel is a familiar face at many major comic conventions. He handles the long drives, helps with setup, and enjoys sharing the story of Old World Magic with fans and collectors. His enthusiasm, deep knowledge of the products, and natural salesmanship make him an invaluable part of our event team, and his early creative influence remains an important part of the brand’s history and continued success.
Willow Dunlop
Management & Sales
Willow Dunlop (Josh's Wife) plays a key role in supporting Old World Magic, helping keep both the business and the events running smoothly.
Behind the scenes, she assists with day-to-day organisation and sales planning, offering a calm, steady presence that helps everything stay on track.
At conventions and events, Willow is an essential part of the team. She helps with the long journeys, sets up our displays, and works directly with customers, bringing a calm, friendly presence to the stand. Her warmth, reliability, and eye for detail help create a welcoming experience for everyone who visits us.
Ralph Dunlop
Master Wand Maker
Now retired, our master wand maker lives high in the hills of Dartmoor with his wife Pippa, in a cosy cottage overlooking the Teign Valley.
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Each wand begins its life in his private woodland, where he carefully selects the wood by hand. Every piece is then patiently sanded, carved, and varnished using traditional methods, with no two wands ever treated the same. He finishes each wand by pairing it with antique metals and carefully chosen decorative elements, forging them into truly unique, one-of-a-kind works of art.
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Every wand we sell has passed through his hands from start to finish, and his craftsmanship is at the very heart of what we create. We couldn’t be more proud.
Sam Elliot
Head of 3D Production and Design
Sam Elliot leads our 3D printing department and is responsible for ensuring every model we produce prints exactly as intended.
From preparing and optimising STL files to fine-tuning print settings and post-processing finished pieces, Sam oversees the entire 3D printing workflow with precision and care. His technical knowledge and problem-solving skills ensure that each print meets our standards for accuracy, durability, and finish.
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Sam has a deep understanding of how digital sculpts translate into physical objects, allowing him to catch potential issues before they become problems and to push the quality of our prints to the highest level possible. His attention to detail and consistency play a huge role in maintaining the quality and reliability of our products.
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Simply put, if it’s been printed by us, Sam has made sure it’s done right.
