Mason was born north of Syracuse in Gilbert’s Mills, NY. When he was 9, his father took a job as an engraver with the Baker Gun Company in Batavia.

From an early age, with his parent's encouragement, Roy was encouraged to draw. During the weekends, the elder Mason took Roy on painting trips into the wilderness where his father coached him on observation, sketching and painting. Frank also taught him about the outdoors through hunting and fishing. This is where Roy developed his love of landscape and wildlife art.

In 1902, he took a correspondence course with his sister, Nina. The course was the extent of his "formal training." Five years later, Frank established F.E. Mason and Sons, Makers of Embossed Seals and Labels. Roy's job was to compose the drawings while his father did the engraving and his brother, Max, managed the business.

Roy Mason entered the Stathmore Watercolor Paper Contest and won third prize. He left the family business and took a position at the Ketterlinus Lithograph Co., in Philadelphia; but returned to the business in 1919 and headed its art department until 1946.

Throughout his career, Mason won awards from the Buffalo Society of Artist, the National Academy of Design, American Water Color Society, and Audubon Artists. He was a member of the National Academy of Design, American Watercolor Society, Buffalo Society of Artists, the Society of Western Artists and many more.

Following his retirement in 1959 he moved to La Jolla, California where he continued to paint until his death in 1972.