Born in New Delhi in 1936, Dhawan studied at the Delhi Polytechnic (which was later renamed College of Art) from 1953-58. Soon after, he participated in his first group show at All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi. In 1960, he became co-founder of the group, The Unknown, that lasted for four years. In 1960, he also went to Belgrade in erstwhile Yugoslavia to study art for two years.

Upon his return, he participated in many group shows and held solo shows as well, and started teaching art at a college in Phagwara, Punjab. In 1964, he received a grant to study and practice art in erstwhile Yugoslavia for two years. In 1970, he went to Paris to study at Ecole des Beaux-Arts, and settled in the city for good. He would increasingly become less mobile even though his art continued to find favour with collectors, and solo shows were held by galleries in Delhi. He passed away in Paris on October 31, 2012.