Dowling was born in London and while studying for a degree at St Anne's College, Oxford between 1943 and 1946, she also studied at the Slade School of Fine Art which during World War 2 evacuated from London to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.

[2][3][4] During 1984 and 1985, Dowling and her husband, the portrait painter Peter Greenham (1909–1992) had a joint touring exhibition.

[3][5] A retrospective exhibition of her work was held at the Mompesson House in Salisbury in 1992 and further solo shows followed, notably at the Chappel Galleries in 2002.

[3] Dowling completed a number of commissions for the National Trust and also one for the Oxford Oratory Church.

[3] Several Oxford hospitals, plus the town's Ashmolean Museum and also Southampton Art Gallery hold examples of her work.