Donald Ainsley was born in New York City and from an early age was extremely motivated to become an artist. In 1954 Ainsley took significant steps to fulfill this goal by attending the High School of Industrial Art and graduating from that institution in 1957. During this time, Ainsley studied studio life drawing with the noted New York artist, Fogarty, at the Art Students League.

After graduating from the High School of Industrial Art, Ainsley moved on to further his artistic education at the Parsons School of Design, also in New York. At Parsons, Ainsley was afforded the opportunity to study with the noted American Artists Joseph Albers and Sewell Stillman, who were color theorists at Yale University.

Upon graduating from Parson's in 1961, Ainsley began work as a graphic designer at the Ad Agency, Union Publication in New York City and by 1969 his design talents were highly sought after by the agency's clients. Looking to expand his design career, Ainsley then accepted employment in Southern California as a furniture designer in association with Thomasville, Baker, and Henredon Corporations until his retirement twenty-five years later.

Today Ainsley continues to fulfill his need to create works of art through plein air painting, which is now his full time career. Ainsley's pieces have been displayed in numerous invitational art exhibitions including the Ventura County Maritime Harbor Museum and the Newport Nautical Museum.