Dooley's early life was marked by diverse and challenging experiences. Leaving school at the age of 14, he took on various jobs, including working as a merchant seaman and later as a welder at Cammell Laird shipyards in Birkenhead. These early jobs, particularly in heavy industry, had a profound influence on his artistic vision. It was during his time as a welder that Dooley began attending night classes in sculpture, which set him on the path to becoming an artist. His talent blossomed further when he enrolled at St Martin's School of Art in London, where his raw, expressive style began to take shape.

Dooley's sculptures are noted for their powerful emotional impact and often feature religious and social themes. Working primarily with bronze and steel, materials that mirrored his industrial roots, he created pieces that were both robust and deeply evocative. Central to his art was a strong sense of social justice and solidarity with the working class. This commitment to social issues was not just thematic but also active, as seen in his involvement with the 1972 Fisher Bendix worker strikes in Kirkby, near his native Liverpool.

The Fisher Bendix factory strikes were a pivotal moment in Dooley's life and career. Faced with job losses and poor working conditions, the workers went on strike and eventually occupied the factory in a desperate bid to save their jobs. Dooley's support for the workers went beyond mere sympathy; he actively participated in their cause, using his art and public presence to amplify their struggles. In solidarity with the workers, Dooley produced the present works as tokens to be sold at the factory gates, with the proceeds being donated to the striking workers. This involvement underscored his belief in art as a tool for social change and his deep connection to the working-class community.