Alfred Dawson was taught by his father, the artist Henry Dawson and was the younger brother of Henry Thomas Dawson. Alfred Dawson exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1860 until 1889 with oil paintings, pen drawings and etchings. He also exhibited at Suffolk Street, the British Institute, the Royal society of Painters and Etchers, The Royal Society of British Artists, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters among others. He contributed etchings to volumes of ‘The Portfolio Magazine’ from 1884-1892.