About Me

Welcome to my world—I’m Ash Jones, Solo Mum, tick, Neurodiverse, tick, Proud Recovering Addict/Alchie, tick. I love drawing, it is my meditation, my medicine, my brain just calms when I put pencil to paper. However it doesn’t pay the bills, I work full-time in the Organisation Development space within the Professional Services industry.

From a young age, I’ve been deeply passionate about Te Ao Māori. While I don’t whakapapa to iwi within Aotearoa, I am Kiwi-born with roots tracing back to the United Kingdom. I’m grateful for the opportunities my job provides to study, work alongside and nurture the relationships with iwi, allowing me to deepen my understanding of Te Ao Māori and the principles of Tikanga through study and . This journey has inspired me to incorporate Māori symbolism into some of my artwork, reflecting my respect and appreciation for tikanga.

Someone recently asked me, “What motivates you to draw darker artwork?” To be honest, I hadn’t thought about it much until then. The truth is, I have a love for exploring those shadowy corners of existence. I believe there’s beauty to be found, even in the darkest and most toxic places. My art is a reminder that no matter how tough the road gets, there’s always knowledge to share, wisdom to gain, and light to be found.

Drawing has always been my way of processing life’s complexities. My work often reflects my journey through the darker, more challenging parts of life—navigating the hell that is addiction, surviving toxic relationships, dealing with the heartbreak of loss, picking myself up after a fall, and enduring the scars of split families. Through these experiences, I’ve learned that there’s always something to gain—a lesson, a moment of clarity, or a silver lining that reminds us of our strength and resilience.

I hope my art resonates with you in some way.