Ashley Hawkes

Ashley has been immersed in art since childhood, writing, painting and drawing at the family dinner table from the age of 2. For over four decades, creativity has been woven through her life—she studied art throughout high school and completed numerous online watercolor courses and workshops. In her 20s and 30s, she worked as a professional photographer in both Utah and San Diego. She retired her photography business in 2016 to homeschool her three kids and returned to watercolor painting around that time.

She now lives in an old country church in Idaho with her husband, two young adult sons, and a teenage daughter who navigates life with Cerebral Palsy. Working from home is both a necessity and a blessing.

A proud Daniel Smith Brand Ambassador since 2023, Ashley has taken on pet portrait commissions, taught online workshops, and mentored artists worldwide. Now, she focuses on private mentoring via Zoom from her cozy attic studio—helping artists overcome fear, gain confidence, and paint the way they’ve always dreamed. She uses her writing, photography and artistic skills as a freelance content creator and loves every minute of it.

Ashley’s turquoise & green swatches

Ashley works with Imperial Purple

Ashley’s Christmas cards