Helen Ashley trained as a textile designer in the UK and spent decades designing fashion, linen and stationery before settling in Sydney as an illustrator in both paint and porcelain. She hand-sculpts fine Australian porcelain into homewares, bowls and spoons, casting some pieces from moulds she takes off real fruit and vegetables, and hand-paints florals and animals across ceramics and art cards. Her designs are licensed to an Australian homewares brand, and she sells from a shopfront in Earlwood.