Vasiliy Dobretsov studied in Moscow at the Faculty of Arts at VKhUTEIN; continued his education at the Higher Institute of Architecture and Construction – MARHI.
He was the chief architect of Noginsk from 1935–1954 and was the author of projects for houses in Noginsk and Zvenigorod. Participated in the development of the master plan for the post-war reconstruction of Minsk (1945–1946).
The artist was engaged in easel painting; painted landscapes, portraits, thematic paintings.
Dobretsov exhibited at various exhibitions of works by artists of the Moscow region, held a solo exhibition in Noginsk, taught at the Moscow Architectural Institute (1926–1937, 1943–1945).