Born and raised in Harlem, New York, Gil Ashby began his career as an editorial artist after earning a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in illustration and his well as a Masters degree in Visual Journalism from the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York. 

In 1999, Ashby was elected chair department head in an effort to establish the illustration program at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan. In 2011, after leading the program into the nation spotlight, Ashby relinquished his chairs duties and assumed full time faculty responsibilities. That same year Ashby was recognized as the “Distinguished Educator of The Arts” by the distinguished Society of Illustrators based in NYC.  

Ashby is currently an Associate Professor at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, where he teaches figurative drawing courses, with an emphasis on integrating traditional and digital painting methods.