Dod Procter (née Doris Shaw) attended the Stanhope Forbes School of Painting (1907–08) from the age of fifteen. There she met Ernest Procter (1886–1935), with whom she studied at the Académie Colarossi in Paris (1910–11) before they married in 1912. She first exhibited at the RA in 1913, and in 1914 held a joint exhibition with her husband at the FAS, London. 

During the 1920s, Procter made portraits, usually of women, often in classical poses though usually with a soft focus creating an aura of sensuality. Somewhat radical for the time, the paintings’ eroticism caused some controversy; nevertheless, Morning (1926) was voted Picture of the Year at the RA Summer Exhibition in 1927. She also illustrated numerous texts, including A Penny for the Guy by Clare Collas, published in 1945. 

A prolific exhibitor, Procter showed at the NEAC, NSA, Grosvenor Gallery and STISA (of which she became president in 1966). She was elected RA in 1942.

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