Despite her success as a professional potter, Dawn returned to her first love of painting, undertaking extensive courses at the North Adelaide School of Art and Adelaide Central School of Arts.
In 1990 she entered the University of South Australia and completed a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Arts with honours, and was awarded membership of the elite Golden Key Society.
Dawn’s body of sold work includes literally hundreds of paintings of all styles and types in all mediums such as oils, water-colour and acrylics, ranging from photo-realism, impressionist, and a wide range of abstract styles.