Will Ashton

Sir John William Ashton, OBE, ROI (20 September 1881 – 1 September 1963) was a prolific Australian Impressionist artist and director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales from 1937 to 1943.

Early life Ashton was born in Clifton, York, England, the only son of artist James Ashton, and his wife Mary Elizabeth Ashton. His father immigrated to Australia, arriving at Adelaide, South Australia in January 1884 and founding a school of painting in "unpretentious but commodious" premises on The Parade, Norwood in 1885. His wife and son arrived at a later date, but generally given as in 1884.

Ashton attended Prince Alfred College, where his father was art teacher, from 1889 to 1897. Neither academically nor athletically inclined. On leaving school, he received further training from his father; Ashton had several paintings accepted by the Royal Academy of Arts, London, and the Salon de la Société des Artistes Français, around which time he adopted the name "Will Ashton" to avoid confusion with his father or Julian Ashton (no relation). In 1905 he returned to Adelaide, where his "Boulevard Montparnasse, Paris" was hailed as a masterpiece, and purchased by the Art Gallery of South Australia. After holding exhibitions in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide, in 1908, he won the Wynne Prize for landscapes. He was retained as advisor to the National Gallery of South Australia and private collectors, and as examiner for the Royal Drawing Society. He won the Godfrey Rivers Bequest prize in 1933 and 1938. Ashton also won the Wynne Prize for a second and third time in 1930 and 1939.

Later life In 1937 Ashton was appointed director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and organised the NSW sesquicentenary exhibition of Australian art, which opened in February 1938. The gallery had been criticised for inadequate lighting, which he was able to address, but was constrained by the exigencies of wartime economy from much-needed extensions, and resigned in November 1943, but hung on as acting director for another six months. None was chosen; John Henry Young, director of the Macquarie Galleries was instead taken on in a temporary capacity until the appointment of Hal Missingham.

Ashton was appointed first director of David Jones Art Gallery in June 1944, which he ran until 1947.

Ashton was also: a member of the Royal Drawing Society a member of the Commonwealth Art Advisory Board from 1918 and chairman 1953–1962. a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters elected vice-president of the Australian Painter-Etchers' Society 1931 member of the Society of Artists in Sydney

Ashton died of cancer at his home in Mosman, New South Wales.

Recognition He was awarded the (Sydney) Society of Artists' medal in 1944. and was made a Knight Bachelor on 11 June 1960 for his service as chairman of the Commonwealth Art Advisory Board.

A portrait of Ashton by William Dargie was purchased by the Commonwealth government for the National Portrait Gallery.

His paintings are held by the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of South Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria, and the Queensland Art Gallery.

Family On 31 January 1906 Ashton married May Millman (1880–1958), one of his students, at Christ Church, North Adelaide. They had three sons: Adrian Olsson Ashton CBE (9 November 1906 – 1982) was a leading architect in Sydney. Colin Millman Ashton (5 August 1911 – 24 April 2003), died in Waverton, New South Wales. Basil York Ashton, (23 May 1919 – 3 April 1987) born in Chatswood, New South Wales lived in Clontarf, New South Wales.

He married again, to the widow Winfreda Isabel "Freda" Hoggard, née Luxmoore, (1904 – 9 May 1989), on 6 February 1961. She was murdered on Military Road, Mosman by serial killer John Wayne Glover.