Since 1962 Noel Dyrenforth has pioneered a fresh approach to wax resist, and is credited with developing many of the modern techniques which are now practiced by many international batik artists. Whilst acknowledging a great debt to traditional craft techniques, his creative practice challenges perceptions around the aesthetic qualities of batik, creating work which is conceptually different and diverse and rooted in the counter-culture movement of the 1960s. Actively rejecting conventional art processes, Dyrenforth's distinct recognisable style constantly explores the interaction between hot wax and dye on cloth, but also includes more random methods of applying wax such as splattering and spray dyeing using a spray gun. Despite his focus on process, the artist also acknowledges that chance and experience also plays a vital role in the final outcome.

Dyrenforth's recurring themes centre on the tension inherent in a rapidly changing society and the continual erosion of personal liberties. He believes that it is only through creative self-expression that submission to political and cultural hegemony can be prevented. He travels widely and believes that cultural exchange with leading international batik artists provides a stimulus to his work.