Dalton was a boat designer and builder, with a definite talent for the painting in watercolour of boats and marine subjects. Born in Plymouth in the early years (c1910-15) of the 20th century, he was the son of a builder and the grandson of a portrait painter on ships. Percy was a student at Plymouth School of Art, and though he must have showed talent (offered support to study in Rome) he went to sea instead, taking a variety of jobs, and crewing racing yachts for wealthy clients in the 1930s.

In WWII, he was comissioned a sub-lieutenant and worked on gun sights and torpedoes back in Plymouth, at the Devonport Dockyards. Following the war, he moved with his wife Beatrice and children to Falmouth, Cornwall where he remained for the rest of his life. His commissions for boat designs were many, and some of these may be found in local marine collections. His watercolours were also numerous, and some can be seen on the website that gives his biographical details: www.parishtram.co.uk/percydalton.htm.