Douglas Percy Bliss was born in Karachi, India [now Pakistan] on 28 January 1900. He subsequently moved to the UK and grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland. After serving in the Highland Light Infantry during World War One, he attended Edinburgh University where he read Rhetoric, English Literature and art history (1919-22). He then studied at the Royal College of Art in London (1922-25).

While at the RCA he attended the Saturday morning engraving classes given by Sir Frank Short.

In 1928 he married the painter Phyllis Dodd (1899-1995). Following their marriage, the couple lived at 65 Sandcroft Road, Lambeth, and in 1932 moved to a flat at 38 Lee Park, Blackheath, London where Bliss established the Blackheath Society for Amenity Conservation. He also taught at taught at Blackheath School of Art and Hornsey College of Art.

In 1940, during World War Two, their flat was badly damaged by bombing and they then moved to a rented cottage in Shottle, Derbyshire. From 1941 to 1945 Bliss served in the Royal Air Force. After the war he went back to teaching at Hornsey College of Art and also taught at Harrow School of Art in 1945–46.

In 1946 Bliss was appointed Director of the Glasgow School of Art, a position he held until 1964. During this period the couple lived at 3 Prince's Gardens, Glasgow.

Bliss frequently exhibited at the Royal Academy in London from 1930 to 1956. He also exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh from 1935 to 1964; the New English Art Club in London from 1931 to 1938; the Royal Society of British Artists in 1939; and at the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts; and at Manchester City Art Gallery. Solo exhibitions were held at Lefevre Gallery and Leger Gallery. in London and in 1946 a joint exhibition of work by Bliss and Dodd was held at Derby City Art Gallery.

Bliss illustrated a number of books including Border Ballads (1925); The Devil in Scotland (1934); and Edgar Allan Poe's Some Tales of Mystery and Imagination (1938). He also wrote art criticism and book reviews for various periodicals including The Listener and The Scotsman.

Following his retirement in 1964, Bliss and Dodd returned to Derbyshire to live. Bliss died in Ashbourne, Derbyshire on 11 March 1984.

_{Text source: Art History Research net (AHR net)}