Ashton grew up and spent much of his life in the Savannah, Georgia area. An appreciation of the beauty of nature came easily with a mother that was a florist and a father that was a forester. A degree in biology only seemed natural. Ashton worked in building material sales, as a helicopter mechanic, a high school teacher, and as a chemist while in the Savannah area.

In the mid 1990's, Ashton and his wife Jean moved to Northern Virginia. Here he was able to explore his long time interest in woodworking. To this point he had no practical experience with woodworking tools and machinery. The metro D.C. area offered Ashton the opportunity to take some woodworking and woodturning classes from the local adult education system. Interest turned to passion. He joined the Capital Area Woodturners and the Washington Woodworkers Guild. Several members took Ashton under their wing and taught him woodturning and furniture making. This experience taught Ashton the value of woodworking organization as a teaching tool. The collective knowledge and skills in such groups are an invaluable resource. During his time in Northern Virginia, Ashton served as Vice President to the woodworker's guild.

In 1999 Ashton and Jean moved to the Shenandoah Valley in a very small rural community called Fulks Run. Ashton soon felt the need to find some other woodworkers in the area to share with. After meeting a couple other woodturners, they decided to form a turning club. The Woodturners of the Virginias was formed. This small group of about 30 wood turning enthusiasts now meets in Ashton's basement shop. He served as president for the first two years and now serves on the Activities and Demonstrations Committee.

Ashton now works part-time in a local cabinet shop in Harrisonburg and part-time in his own shop. Interest turned hobby, turned passion, has now turned into a labor of love.

Ashton is a juried member of the Artisan's Center of Virginia in Waynesboro, VA where is turned art and furniture in on display. He also serves on the Art Committee for the WVPT Art Auction. His donated work has won two People's Choice awards, which is voted on by the public. He will also have three pieces in an upcoming book titled "500 Wooden Bowls" by Lark Books, which will come out later this year.

As a wood turning artist, Ashton feels he is still in an early stage on and evolution. During this time he is looking for and finding new ways of using the lathe as a carving tool to manipulate the wood. He wants to find new ways to draw a response to his work.

Ashton can be contacted at aah2os@shentel.net if you have any questions or comments about his work.