Allyson has been a professional artist for over thirty-five years. She grew up in Ontario, receiving her degrees in English and Fine Art from the University of Toronto and York University. A Vancouver resident for many years, she has also studied at Emily Carr University and has taken many workshops through the Federation of Canadian Artists. She has illustrated books on nature, and her paintings "The Birds of Vancouver" and "Garden Birds of Greater Vancouver" were made into posters to celebrate Nature Vancouver's 75th and 100th anniversaries. She has also written several articles about art and nature.
She is a member of the Burnaby Artists' Guild and an associate signature member of the Federation of Canadian Artists.
Her paintings are inspired by nature, her travels, and the people she loves, especially her husband, Ron Johnson, who played an integral part in her journey to becoming an AFCA.