Dibdin was born in Betchworth, Surrey. He first worked in a post office. He became an artist at the age of 28 and travelled to France, Germany and Belgium.

He also did paintings in Gibraltar and India although the latter were created in England based on detailed sketches.^[1] In 1845 he published a guide to water colour painting.^[2]

Dibdin worked at Sydenham College later in life with his father in law. He died in Sydenham. His paintings can be seen in galleries in London and Sheffield.^[3]

• Works by or about Thomas Colman Dibdin at Internet Archive
•   The Abbey and Hills from near Mussooree. engraved by John Charles Varrall for Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1838 with a poetical illustration by Letitia Elizabeth Landon.