Ashley has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Mus) from the City College of New York and an Assoc. Dip. in Jazz Studies from Sydney Conservatorium. He has been awarded Australia Council Of The Arts grants for study in New York and for the production of his own CD, " Beautiful Open Spaces".

Ashley is one of Sydney's most in demand jazz bassists and has worked with many of Australia's leading jazz artists including James Morrison, Vince Jones and Dale Barlow as well as backing mainstream artists such as Dave Hobson, Marina Pryor, Monica Trapaga and Renee Geyer. In 2001 Ashley moved to New York for six years and established himself in the city's competitive freelance scene. While there he studied extensively with jazz bass legend Ron Carter.

Ashley teaches bass guitar and double bass (jazz) at Central Coast Conservatorium and leads the Jazz Ensemble on Tuesday evenings.