Jason Ashwood

Jason Ashwood is a photographer and writer who specialises in portraiture and visual storytelling. Shaped by his life experiences, empathy, dignity, and humanity define Jason’s approach to photography. People are at the heart of Jason’s imagery, either in portraits or documentary study. He seeks out depth in a fleeting moment or expression, seeking to define an emotion that speaks a truth. As a body of work, Jason seeks to educate about deeper social issues, as well as inspire and uplift us through the beauty found in the arts.

Jason’s work is diverse. In recent years, Jason worked pro-bono for a charity in the Ugandan slums, created a two-year international study of survivors of female genital mutilation called The Face of Defiance, undertook a long-term project about clinicians in a London Covid-19 vaccination centre, and completed three documentary book projects.

Living with his family in London, Jason balances his time between commercial work and self-generated social interest projects. Self-taught, though hugely influenced by mentors, Jason remains drawn to developing monochrome imagery where he feels he can best replicate the mood he envisages in his images when he shoots them.

Certified Adobe Associate in Design (Photoshop).
Member of the Jerry B. Jenkins Writers’ Guild.
Masters Degree (MSc), Kings College London.

Permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery in London. Five of Jason’s portraits feature within the gallery’s collection.

The Face of Defiance exhibition. The World Bank, New York (2020)

The Face of Defiance exhibition. The Women of the World Festival, London (2018)

National Portrait Gallery. Exhibited work in the ‘Movers and Shakers’ exhibition (2018)

The Face of Defiance exhibition. The Department for International Development, London (2017)

The Face of Defiance exhibition. The Home Office, London (2017)

The Face of Defiance exhibition. The World Bank, New York (2017)

The Face of Defiance exhibition. The Oslo Freedom Forum, New York (2017)

The Face of Defiance exhibition. The US Institute for Peace, Washington D.C. (2016)

Books:

Shadow Aspect - My Journey of Expression. A memoir by Lady Mara Galeazzi OMRI, former principal dancer of The Royal Ballet.

In addition to her memoir, the book contains Jason’s photo documentary study of Mara’s life behind the stage between 2017 and 2020. To be published in 2021 (date awaits).

Not Without Tears - A Life Lived Onstage by Rainer Krenstetter, principal dancer of Miami City Ballet.

Rainer’s memoir is also accompanied by Jason’s photo documen...