Landscape and seascape painter, born in York, but early on educated in Adelaide, Australia, where he had gone with his family, his father being an artist, James Ashton. Back in Europe John William Ashton, to give him his full name, studied in Paris at the Académie Julian, also under Julius Olsson and Algernon Talmage. Painted widely in Europe and exhibited RA, Goupil Gallery, ROI, RBA and Paris Salon; also established a reputation in Australia, where his work is held in many public collections. He won a number of awards in Australia, such as the Wynne Art Prize, on several occasions, the Godfrey Rivers Prize and the Society of Artists Medal. Served on the Commonwealth Art Advisory Board, of which he was chairman in 1953. Was director of the National Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 1937–44; was knighted 1960.