Julian Howard Ashton

Who was Julian Howard Ashton?

Julian Howard Ashton was a British journalist, writer, artist and critic. Ashton was most notable for his short stories in The Bulletin, however due to success of this, he began selling his paintings at art galleries, and then began writing for British magazines such as Pall Mall Gazette and Chambers's Journal. He also drew portraits for the Sydney Daily Telegraph, in his late teenage years/early adulthood.

Born in Islington, London, England, Ashton only lived in London for a short period of his life. Before his first birthday, his family moved to Sydney, Australia.

Ashton became a junior shipping reporter of The Sydney Morning Herald but, two years later, he moved to Melbourne, where he was given the position of reporter by Argus, and given the title of music critic in 1910. By his early twenties, Ashton had become a well-known figure in the local media and newspaper companies. He was now writing music, literary and art reviews, though he was only 22. He was a respected and dedicated member of magazines and newspapers companies etc. He resumed his criticism of music, and other arts in 1926, when he was made an associate editor.