Painter and illustrator in oil and watercolour, born in Ackworth, Yorkshire. He attended Wakefield School of Art, 1933–7, then Glasgow School of Art, 1937–9, under W O Hutchison and Tom Purvis. Ashford worked in advertising studios and magazine publishing before going freelance as a painter and illustrator. He was a founder-member of the Guild of Aviation Artists and a fellow of the Central Institute of Art and Design. Ashford was “influenced by marine artists of the 1920s and 1930s, also poster illustrators of the same period”. Took part in group exhibitions at RSMA and RI and had solo shows in Kent galleries. Historical marine and aviation subjects were a speciality. Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon, National Maritime Museum and Ashmolean Museum in Oxford are among collections holding examples.