Dorothea Sharp (1874–1955) was a distinguished British Impressionist painter whose vibrant oils capture the warmth, light and spontaneity of everyday life. Best known for her joyful paintings of children at play, sunlit gardens and Cornish beaches, Sharp developed a distinctive style characterised by luminous colour, energetic brushwork and an exceptional sensitivity to natural light.

Born in Dartford, Kent, Sharp began her formal artistic education in Richmond before continuing her studies at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London. She later travelled to Paris, where the work of the Impressionists, particularly Claude Monet, had a profound influence on her approach to colour and light. She also drew inspiration from artists including Matisse and Van Gogh, adopting expressive outlines and a bold, modern palette that became characteristic of her work.

Sharp exhibited extensively throughout her career, including at the Royal Academy between 1901 and 1948. She was elected to the Royal Society of British Artists in 1907 and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters in 1922, while also becoming a leading figure within the Society of Women Artists, serving as its President for four years. Her first major one-woman exhibition was held at the Connell Gallery in London in 1933.