Resident in Bristol and then Portishead for most of her life, Dawn was born in Gosport, Hampshire. Interested in art from her earliest years, and encouraged to draw by her father from childhood, she studied at Northampton School of Art, 1949–52, and gained her Bachelor of Education degree from Manchester Training College.

One of the finest West Country painters of the past few decades, her work was known and respected throughout the UK and internationally, She was elected to RWA in 1981 and to NEAC in 1990. A regular exhibitor at the RA Summer Exhibition 1977–2005 and she also showed annually at The RWA and NEAC.

She was a keen supporter of The Clifton Arts Club and always happy to advise budding artists.

From an early age, an admirer of great painters like Auerbach, Herman, Eardley, Redpath, and Lowry, her painting really came of age when she was able to travel to London to view their work. She adopted Lowry’s minimal palette. Lamp Black, White, Yellow Ochre, Prussian Blue & Vermilion were key to her work.

Although working mainly in oils, she was equally adept at watercolours and printmaking

Solo exhibitions included two at the New Gallery, RWA, 2000 and 2004 and Salisbury Playhouse, with mixed shows elsewhere. Awards included 1st Prize in Laing National Painting Competition in 1988, the RWA’s Artistic Excellence Award, 2003, NEAC in 1988, 2000 and 2004. RWA, Avon Art for Schools and Cardiff Polytechnic hold examples.