Alison trained in Printed textile design at Derby and Nottingham. She obtained a City & Guilds certificate in Appreciation of Colour and Design.

In 1998 she moved to St Just in West Penwith and purchased The Old Sunday School Studio two years later.  Her partner, Clare Calder Marshall, managed the business side of the attractive and popular Gallery and teaching venue which they set up there. Alison exhibited widely and assisted often with community art projects.

Her illustrations were used, along with the designs of fellow artist Jack TROWBRIDGE, for the Millennium history of the town of Penzance, written by Melissa HARDIE and published by Penzance Town Council, to be distributed widely to all school children under 16 in West Cornwall. Her cover illustration for this book was an example of her interesting multi-media techniques of creating pictures with poured paper pulp. Another strong element of her art is built upon her natural wit and intelligence that literally 'burbles and pops' in many creative ways on cards, bookmarks, and other ephemera.

In about 2005, the partners moved to Lavenham in Suffolk, where they own and manage the Crooked House Gallery in the High Street.