Painter Paul Dougherty was born in Brooklyn, New York. Like his father, he trained as a lawyer, and although he passed the New York Bar Exam in 1898 he never practiced, choosing art as a career. He trained at the Art Students League in New York City, and continued his studies in London, Paris, Munich, Florence and Venice.  Dougherty returned to the States in 1905, and two years later was elected to the National Academy of Design.

He is mentioned as a former St Ives resident in a Pittsburg exhibition letter of 1912, when he exhibited The Island at the Carnegie Institute Annual Exhibition. For this painting he was awarded the Second prize of $1000.

Seeking a milder climate, Dougherty moved to Carmel and Palm Springs in 1931. Dividing his time between the two homes, Dougherty continued painting marines and rugged coastal scenes that had made him a famous artist on the east coast.

The St Ives Times reported that he returned to the town from Switzerland, where he had been with Mr William LLOYD, Secretary of the Art Club: 'Messrs Paul Dougherty, Elmer SCHOFIELD and Gardner SYMONS are a trio of front-rank American artists who have at different times lived and worked in St Ives. Mr Dougherty devoted himself chiefly to sea-scapes and rhythmic movements of breaking waves on the coast. We are pleased to welcome him, who with all the world to choose from, crosses the Atlantic year after year to find his motifs on our Cornish coasts.'

Please see biographical comments for Parke Custis DOUGHERTY (b Philadelphia) also: these are probably separate artists, but some confusion is possible.