Allyson is a fourth generation Californian, born and raised in southern California. Since her earliest memories she has been an artist, and throughout school she was frequently recognized and awarded for her artistic achievements.
She studied journalism in college, learning typography, editorial layout and photography and used her creative talents to become a graphic designer. In 1979 she relocated to the San Francisco bay area; Clients included Apple Computer, Hewlett-Packard, Cisco Systems, Ziff-Davis, Applied Materials and Media Arts Group.
One day she realized that she had been neglecting her first love, painting. She immediately went to the art store, stocked up on supplies and has been painting ever since. In 1999 she moved to the Monterey Peninsula, where she currently resides on the California central coast.