Dena Ashbolt was born and raised in London, United Kingdom, and graduated from the University of Westminster, London with a Bachelor of Arts – 1st Class Honours in Film and Photographic Arts. In 1982 she immigrated to Melbourne, Australia and in 2009 received her Masters of Fine Art by research from Monash University, Faculty of Art and Design, Melbourne. Ashbolt is currently a doctorial candidate at Monash University, Melbourne, her current research focuses on, ‘confronting the static, drawing on the effects of time’ a consideration of how time may be evoked through drawing movement.
Ashbolt’s artworks engage with perception and the passing of time. She explores the bitter sweet notion of time passing as evidenced by movement. In her most recent works Ashbolt has been using photographic stills to freeze the delicate motion found in the decay of flowers.
Dena Ashbolt has participated in many group exhibitions and has had solo exhibitions in Australia, Canada and Europe. Her work has been included in the Summer Exhibition of the Royal Academy, London and she has been the recipient of a United Kingdom Arts Council Grant. In Australia, she has undertaken a one-year Artist’s residency in Clifton Pugh’s paint studio at Dunmoochin, Victoria and a 6 week residency in the Pool Studio at Montsalvat, Victoria.
Dena Ashbolt joined the stable of artists at Alcaston Gallery in 2012. Her artworks have been collected by Nillumbik Shire Council Collection, Victoria, Australia, Lloyds Bank Limited, United Kingdom and National Westminster Bank, United Kingdom, and significant private collectors.

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