Clifford Warren Ashley was born on December 18, 1881, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and died on September 18, 1947, in Westport Point, Massachusetts. Although he was known primarily as a knot expert, he was also a talented artist, author, and sailor. Ashley's interest in art developed in high school. After high school he attended the Eric Pape Art School in Boston, and in the summer of 1901 he studied with George Noyes in Annisquam, Massachusetts. In the fall of that year, he became a student at Howard Pyle's school in Wilmington, Delaware, where Pyle helped Ashley obtain commissions, including covers for books and illustrations for magazines such as The Delineator, Leslies, McClure's, and Success.

Clifford Warren Ashley wurde am 18. Dezember 1881 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, geboren und starb am 18. September 1947 in Westport Point, Massachusetts. Obwohl er vor allem als Knotenexperte bekannt war, war er auch ein begabter Künstler, Autor und Segler. Ashleys Interesse an der Kunst entwickelte sich bereits in der High School. Nach der Schule besuchte er die Eric Pape Art School in Boston und im Sommer 1901 studierte er bei George Noyes in Annisquam, Massachusetts. Im Herbst desselben Jahres wurde er Schüler der Schule von Howard Pyle in Wilmington, Delaware, wo Pyle Ashley zu Aufträgen verhalf, darunter Titelbilder für Bücher und Illustrationen für Zeitschriften wie The Delineator, Leslies, McClure's und Success.