A painter in acrylics, Ali Cockrean studied at Central St Martins College of Art & Design, and the Slade School of Fine Art. Her expressionist landscapes can be found in collections across the world including Europe, Hong Kong, the USA and Canada. She has undertaken a number of private commissions, and was featured on BBC TV in 2012 after she was commissioned to paint the Queen's Jubilee River Pageant live from London's Millennium Bridge.

Cockrean moved to Cornwall in 2015. She is an art tutor to adults and children, and offers talks and demonstrations on her subject. She works as a freelance tutor for Truro Arts.