"Pen, pencil and brushwork have always been part of my working day - not always appropriately," he says. "Many long staff meetings in later life were eased by marginal drawings on Important Bits of Paper."
He attended Farnham School of Art for Foundation year, Exeter for Graphic Design and worked initially in marketing and advertising, before taking a career change to work in Learning Disabilities.
"I later qualified as a Psychiatric Nurse and worked in acute psychiatry and then specialised in Addictions and Substance Misuse therapy."
"During this time my art took a back seat but my interest in pen- and ink-work and illustration had a role in therapy with my patients."
Ashley is now a full time artist and also has his own range of greetings cards and prints.
"The paintings I do now are a new and surprising development as I always considered my self an illustrator," he says. "The theme of the coast, beach and figures in a sometimes semi-abstract setting seem to have a resonance with my earlier work in therapy and often strike an emotional chord in the viewer."
Whilst many of Ashley's paintings are traditionally peopled, he is also exploring "the idea of space, horizons and spirituality within these small canvases".
"A British Summer" continues until 2nd September.
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