James Ashe
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jamesashestudio.com
James Ashe
@jamesashestudio.com
600 followers 980 following 370 posts
I’m an autistic Irish Illustrator working in children’s publishing.

Member of Illustrators North
Rep’d by Luddington Creative

Portfolio @ jamesashestudio.com

Work enquiries to [email protected]
Posts Replies Media Videos
jamesashestudio.com
I was shopping yesterday and it dawned on me that vampires can’t eat garlic bread, so they eat a loaf of dread instead.

Here’s a rough sketch I did during the middle of last night. #kidlit #kidlitart
Crayon pencil drawing in the style of a children’s picturebook page with a cartoon vampire in a castle kitchen holding a mouldy loaf of bread and handwriting that reads “Behold! A freshly baked loaf of dread!” underneath
October 3, 2025 at 12:16 PM
jamesashestudio.com
First #kidlitartpostcard for the autumn!

I'm James, and I am an Irish illustrator who is currently working within children's publishing. I recently made an illustration of NYC for a kids' non-fiction project.

Luddington Creative currently represents me.

jamesashestudio.com
[email protected]
Artwork featuring the New York City skyline, featuring a man and girl looking at the Empire State Building from an observation deck. There is a logo for James Ashe and text reading 'jamesashestudio.com', 'represented by Luddington Creative'.
September 4, 2025 at 10:16 AM
jamesashestudio.com
Delighted to announce that I am now being represented by Lucie at Luddington Creative. ✨✏️ #illustration #kidlitart #childrenspublishing #kidlit
Hand drawn illustration of James (a man with long hair, wearing glasses and a white T-shirt) drawing at his desk. There is handwriting that reads “I’m now represented by Luddington Creative”
September 3, 2025 at 8:39 AM
jamesashestudio.com
A new double page spread for a non-fiction project. This time highlighting the New York skyline in Midtown Manhattan. I visited NYC before, so this view point is actually based on the observation deck at the Rockefeller Center.

#illustration #kidlit #kidlitart #procreateartist #childrensnonfiction
A double page book spread showcasing the skyline in midtown Manhattan with the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center in focus. There is a child on viewing binoculars and a man holding a camera in the photo
August 29, 2025 at 8:45 AM
jamesashestudio.com
I met with a terrible fate on Vinted.
Photo of James with a light up model of Majora’s Mask.
August 22, 2025 at 4:31 PM
jamesashestudio.com
My own take on illustrating artwork based on the Wednesday Netflix series. Featuring Wednesday, Enid, and of course – Thing! With a book cover for the series’ novelization that taps into the Young Adult fiction market.

#illustration #kidlitart #kidlit #youngadults #wednesday #bookcover
Book cover illustration based on the Wednesday Netflix series. The artwork features Enid pulling Wednesday in by the shoulder and waving hi to Thing.
August 15, 2025 at 8:30 AM
jamesashestudio.com
Earlier on in the year, I had the opportunity to visit the Poets & Lovers Van Gogh exhibition in the National Gallery in London. I made some sketches then, and I decided to illustrate this for use in children’s non-fiction publishing and my own blog. #kidlit #kidlitart #vangogh #procreateartist
Illustration for children’s non-fiction publishing featuring the Poets & Lovers Van Gogh exhibition in the National Gallery in London. Including 3 paintings which are sunflowers, Van Gogh self portrait, and a chair. There are two spectators looking and gazing in wonder.
August 9, 2025 at 10:31 PM
jamesashestudio.com
If you have been to NYC then you know what this means.
Illustration of a turnstile jumper
August 8, 2025 at 12:31 PM
jamesashestudio.com
My illustrated guide to the New York City Subway. Inspired by a previous visit, I created this illustration to show how the subway works as a speculative double page spread for children’s non-fiction publishing. 🍎🚃

Art direction with Luddington Creative.
Illustrated drawing of an MTA subway station in New York City. Complete with an entrance, train car, ticket machine, and passengers.
August 8, 2025 at 12:12 PM
jamesashestudio.com
Another imagined middle-grade book cover, this time it’s David Solomon’s A Beginner’s Guide to Ruling the Galaxy.

Brief set by Luddington Creative.
Mock up illustrated book cover of A Beginner’s Guide to Ruling the Galaxy. Set in space with green, white, and purple tones with a boy and girl in space.
July 29, 2025 at 5:34 PM
jamesashestudio.com
Hey #portfolioday, I'm James, and I'm currently working on some kid lit artwork, middle-grade book covers, and projects.

I'm open for commissions!

jamesashestudio.com

[email protected]
A visual biography of James, with an illustrated version of James standing in the centre clutching his portfolio and waving. There are fun facts surrounding James which state 'I was born in the same city as the Titanic', 'I'm gay and autistic', 'I've climbed to the top of the Statue of Liberty', and 'I was in the first generation to grow up after The Troubles conflict'. There's a sentence about James reading 'I'm James Ashe, an illustrator in Northern Ireland with a love for storytelling in my work'. Hand drawn illustration of a baker and his ginger cat in a bakery. They are baking bread and treats. The baker says “kid, I’m strictly on a knead-to-know basis” and the cat replies “and for the right dough!”. The illustration is in the style of a children’s picture book illustration. Illustration showing James as an artist both as an adult and child. There are panels showing him at those two different points in life. There are centre panels showing the Good Friday Agreement, LGBTQI+ Progress flag, and the neurodiverse symbol. There is a quote in handwriting reading “The creative adult is the child who survived.” Illustrated book cover of Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. The illustration is of a boy stranded in the woods holding an axe next to a plane crash site. This is a limited colour swatch with dark navy, purple, and orange colours only.
July 8, 2025 at 1:18 PM
jamesashestudio.com
Hello #kidlitartpostcard, I'm an illustrator based in Ireland, with a focus on creating story-driven narratives in my work. I'm currently working on some new projects as I transition more into Kid Lit illustration. For now, please enjoy this freshly baked loaf. 🍞🐈

jamesashestudio.com
acrylic painting of a cat posing as a loaf of bread in a bakery setting with the catchphrases 'today's bread today' and 'full loaf please' written on the painting.
July 3, 2025 at 10:49 AM
jamesashestudio.com
There was a time in my life I thought about going into journalism.
Hand drawn children’s style newspaper of ‘Tryin’ Times’
June 25, 2025 at 2:37 PM
jamesashestudio.com
The sketch and the model 🦈 #blahaj #illustration
Hand coloured illustration drawing of a Blahaj plush shark in an IKEA bag Blahaj plushie
June 17, 2025 at 4:39 PM
jamesashestudio.com
Mario Kart World is a blast to play. I might make some stickers soon 🐮🏁 #mariokartworld #cow #switch2 #nintendoswitch2 #illustration
Illustrated version of a driver's license for the Cow in Mario Kart
June 13, 2025 at 5:19 PM
jamesashestudio.com
If NPC characters can drive in Mario Kart, then this implies they hold driver’s licences. 🐄

#mariokartworld #switch2
Hand drawn pretend driver’s licence for the cow in Mario Kart World. Screenshot of Cow racing in Mario Kart World
June 8, 2025 at 2:49 PM
jamesashestudio.com
Some pencil sketches by the canal. Nottingham has some beautiful parts.
Pencil crayon drawing of Bennerley Viaduct Pencil sketch of Nottingham Canal Photo of a field and Bennerley Viaduct Nottingham canal
June 3, 2025 at 6:54 PM
jamesashestudio.com
What does Dracula do for a living outside Halloween? He’s an Express Fright courier driver.
Ink sketch of Dracula as an Express Fright courier driver.
May 23, 2025 at 9:42 PM
jamesashestudio.com
Throughout this year, I’ve been working on new and exciting portfolio projects while exploring #KidLit. Here's a cover I illustrated of Gary Paulsen’s middle-grade fiction book, Hatchet. Thanks to Lucie at Luddington Creative for the art direction and support as I expand my portfolio with new ideas.
Illustrated book cover of Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. The illustration is of a boy stranded in the woods holding an axe next to a plane crash site. This is a limited colour swatch with dark navy, purple, and orange colours only.
May 21, 2025 at 12:47 PM
jamesashestudio.com
Let's not forget that time Naomi Wolf led the peace talks in Northern Ireland.
screenshot of a tweet from Naomi Wolf: "It was amazing to go to Belfast, which does not yet have 5G, and feel the earth, sky, air, human experience, feel the way it did in the 1970s. Calm, still, peaceful, restful, natural."
May 18, 2025 at 12:03 PM
jamesashestudio.com
Corporate wants you to find the difference between these two people.
Photo of James wearing a pink jumpsuit and pink corduroy hat and he’s holding a Kirby plushie
May 17, 2025 at 7:39 PM
jamesashestudio.com
Whatever it is, it’s gotta pass the Goose Test first. #illustration
Black ink based illustration of the goose from the goose chase meme asking the viewer if something brings them joy.
May 7, 2025 at 4:37 PM
jamesashestudio.com
Hi #kidlitartpostcard! I'm working on a couple of exciting things. In the meantime, I'll reintroduce myself.

I enjoy projects that focus on storytelling and sharing lived experiences. Currently, I'm trying to write a story about growing up with autism.

jamesashestudio.com
[email protected]
A visual biography of James, with an illustrated version of James standing in the centre clutching his portfolio and waving. There are fun facts surrounding James which state 'I was born in the same city as the Titanic', 'I'm gay and autistic', 'I've climbed to the top of the Statue of Liberty', and 'I was in the first generation to grow up after The Troubles conflict'. There's a sentence about James reading 'I'm James Ashe, an illustrator in Northern Ireland with a love for storytelling in my work'.
May 1, 2025 at 11:12 AM
jamesashestudio.com
Summer’s here and felt cute in my Pikmin top. 🌸
Photo of James on a street in a white T-shirt with embroidered Pikmin, he is also wearing a baby pink corduroy baseball cap, Elmer the Elephant styled trousers, and glasses. Closer detail of the embroidered Pikmin carrying a breast pocket on a T-shirt
April 30, 2025 at 2:19 PM
jamesashestudio.com
Delighted to announce that I am now a member of Illustrators North, a community of illustrators showcasing talent in Northern Ireland. Great things ahead!

www.illustratorsnorth.com
screenshot of james' 'knead to know' baker illustration Biography image of james and a summary of him.
April 30, 2025 at 9:51 AM