Dorothy Bayley (née Cooke) was born in Cornwall, and initially lived at Dunvegan, Carbis Bay – the home of her parents and sister Iris Cooke also an artist. Norman Cooke, her father, was a stalwart of Saint Ives Society of Artists until 1940 and both of his daughters had studios at home. Dorothy Bayley exhibited in the Porthmeor Gallery’s opening show in 1928. After her marriage in 1932, Dossie (as she was known) moved to Nancledra with her husband. Working mainly in 'black and white', her focus was on landscapes and still life. She exhibited with St Ives Society of Artists in Brighton (1932), Birmingham & Cheltenham (1936) and also in the South African Tour of 1947 and was a member from 1932–1967.