Alison Wells was born in Yorkshire and originally trained as a pianist. After reading mathematics and music at London University, she spent a year at the Royal Academy of Music, before beginning her vocal studies. She made her South Bank debut with the Park Lane Group and took part in Elizabeth Schwarzkopf's masterclasses at the Wigmore Hall. Since then, she has appeared in all the major London halls and in many festivals both in the UK and abroad. Much of her work has been in contemporary music, with ensembles such as Matrix, Gemini, Psappha, Music Projects/London, Lontano, Composers Ensemble, the French ensemble 2e2m, and with ASKO and the Schoenberg Ensemble in Amsterdam.

She broadcasts regularly a soloist on BBC Radio 3 and in recital with her husband Martyn Parry. Recent engagements have included avant-garde Russian music of the 1920s in Turin, a tour with Richard Allston Dance company, two appearances at the 1999 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and an education project with the Lonodn Sinfonietta. She also teaches singing to choral exhibitioners at Cambridge.