Dommersen and his family were from Utrecht in Holland, although they moved to England at the end of the Nineteenth Century. His family name was Dommenshuizen, but was changed for convenience when they came to England. Dommersen came from a highly artistic family - his brother Christian C Dommersen, (fl. 1860-1890) was a marine painter, and his son William Raymond Dommersen is well known for his paintings of the Dutch waterways.

Dommersen travelled extensively around Europe on painting tours. He was often accompanied by his son, and a similarity can be seen in their treatment of figures. Dommersen is most famous for his marine subjects and his street scenes. His works show excellent composition and depth, and he captures movement and atmosphere exquisitely. He was as competent at painting traumatic seas, wild skies and terrified people during a storm, as he was at painting tranquil, serene estuaries.

Exhibited: Royal Academy (1865 and 1878), Suffolk Street Galleries, The British Institute.