Daughter of Marine painter G.M.W. Atkinson and sister of Richard P. Atkinson, Sarah lived with her family at 3 Mervue Place, Queenstown until she married H. E. Dobbs in 1885 and moved to Dublin. She had various addresses in Ranelagh (eg. Lower Beechwood Avenue) and Rathmines. She was an art teacher in Dublin and exhibited at the RHA from 1880 to 1897 and 1909 to 1915.

Ref.A Dictionary of Irish Artists by W.G. Strickland,
Vol.1