Born and raised in Richmond, B.C., Ashley attended Vancouver College and went on to complete a Bachelors of Applied Science Degree, Mechanical Engineering at the University of British Columbia. He worked for various engineering companies such as Daimler-Chrysler and Ballard Power Systems in Vancouver, Germany and California. While his engineering career took off, Ashley experienced a persistent urge to explore his artistic creativity. In 2004, he auditioned for Studio 58 at Langara College. Reknowned as one of the top theatre conservatories in the country, 300 people auditioned nationwide that year, out of which only 17 were accepted. Ashley was one of them.

Driven by his passion for the arts, he quit his full-time job as an engineer to pursue his calling, and completed a rigorous 3 year training program that focussed on acting, movement, voice, singing and writing. Upon graduation in 2007, he went on to perform in Romeo and Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew on the mainstage of Western Canada's largest professional Shakespeare festival, Bard on the Beach. He can next be seen in Carousel Theatre's production of "The Hobbit" playing at the Waterfront Theater on Granville Island in April.

Ashley continues to honour his curiosity and creativity through theatre, film and TV. He serves as academic coach and tutor at his alma mater, Vancouver College. He also teaches drama to young children in the Young Shakespeareans Program, as well as in schools through the Bard on the Beach Educational Outreach Program.