About Ashley Coates

Born in the rugged beauty of Alaska, Ashley’s journey has taken her across landscapes and experiences, ultimately leading her to the historic town of Carthage, North Carolina. A lifelong creative, she has dedicated her career to design, photography, and high-end retouching, with a deep passion for branding and product photography.

When she’s not crafting digital visuals, Ashley finds inspiration in hands-on artistic pursuits, from painting and fiber arts to archery and tie-dye. Creativity isn’t just a job—it’s how she sees the world.

As the founder of Pixel & Proper and the creative force behind KandiPixels Photography, Ashley works with a carefully curated network of fellow creatives, ensuring each project gets the talent it deserves. Her freelance career was inspired by love and devotion to her husband, Mike, whom she met in art college. Mike, born with Cystic Fibrosis, received a life-saving lung transplant in 2014 and another in 2020. Their journey together is one of resilience, adventure, and embracing life’s moments—whether that’s discovering new foods, rockhounding for fossils, or exploring historic sites.

Current Projects & Passions

• Community Involvement – Volunteering with Carthage’s Historic Committee and Appearance Committee
• Artistic Pursuits – Archery, knitting, spinning yarn, and creating tie-dye pieces with natural fibers

 

Expertise & Skills

✔ Graphic Design (Print & Web)
✔ Lifestyle, Model & Studio Photography
✔ Ghost Mannequin & Seamless Product Photography
✔ Advanced Photo Retouching & Manipulation
✔ Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop & InDesign
✔ HTML & CSS
✔ WordPress, Shopify & Squarespace (Circle Member)
✔ SEO & ADA Accessibility Awareness

For a detailed look at her professional journey, view Ashley's CV.