A nationally known watercolor artist, Doris White pursued her art career entirely in Wisconsin. She began her studies at the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee; went on to study at the University of Berne in Switzerland and later, in 1950, earned a degree from the Art Institute of Chicago. White then returned to Layton School of Art as an instructor and worked as a commercial artist in Milwaukee before becoming a full-time painter in 1961.
In her studio in Jackson, Wisconsin, White created award-winning watercolor and acrylic paintings that were featured in numerous state and national exhibitions. At the time she was the only woman to receive the Grand Award and Gold Medal from the American Watercolor Society. White was a signature member of that organization and served several times as juror for their national exhibits. In addition, she was a member of the National Academy of Design in New York, the California Watercolor Society and the Philadelphia Watercolor Society.
White worked in a linear style that reflected her abstracted impressions of nature. Her interest in experimentation with watercolors led to the use of printmaking and collage techniques in order to produce colorful layered compositions. White's work was widely collected and featured in numerous regional and national exhibitions.