James Ashe

[We see a close up of a young white male, tanned, white teeth, coiffed hair clearly an influencer on social media. It is an image such as you see when social media posts are shown on the news. In the corner of the screen is named a location: DUBAI. He is staring slightly off-camera for several silent panels of the comic strip. His eyes move slightly. He is having a thought.] From off-screen a newsreader’s commentary comes: NEWSREADER: Extraordinary images here of an expat in Dubai [The influencer’s eybrows raise slightly] …Having their first ever geopolitical thought. [CUT TO a BBC news scene. The BBC newsreader CLIVE MYRIE is talking to an interviewee next to the screen showing the social media influencer’s face. The interviewee’s name is David Jones]. CLIVE MYRIE: To explain the significance of this moment we’re joined by David Jones, our Expat Thoughts correspondent DAVID JONES: Clive, this is momentous It was caught on film at the end of an Instagram post titled: ‘Dubai Is Brilliant’. [Pointing at the screen, the influencer’s expression still the same] You can clearly see in the eyebrows here, the dawning realisation that there *might* be something in the world beyond his dickhead self. It marks a *huge* departure from all the Dubai Expat’s previous thoughts. CLIVE MYRIE: Which are…? DAVID JONES: You've Got To Get Yourself Out Here Mate, Everything Is So Clean, I Don't Have To Pay Taxes, I Am Incurious As To Why I Do Not Have To Pay Taxes, and Spa. CLIVE MYRIE: And might we see an expansion of these new Thoughts in coming days? DAVID JONES: I think we can expect to see: “I Deserve To Be Airlifted By A Country I Pay No Tax To” CLIVE MYRIE: Mmm. [Ends]

THIS IS WHAT SAM ALTMAN WANTS TO TAKE FROM YOU

Sketchbook ink drawing of an abandoned mall called ‘Spook Street Mall’.

Felt like doing a Halloween sketch 8 months early.

Sketchbook ink drawing of an abandoned mall called ‘Spook Street Mall’.

Felt like doing a Halloween sketch 8 months early.

Meta has engineered an algorithm that is as exploitive and abusive as the gambling and tobacco industries. It’s disrupted livelihoods and people’s wellbeing.

I hope him and Zuck face consequences. Read Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams. You’re expected to leave your morals at the door at Meta.

Graphic Novel Illustration featuring the Seymour Hill estate in Belfast. There is a a title that reads ‘The First Day I Never Forgot’. There is a colour scheme of red, white, and blue.

A graphic novel spread featuring terraced houses, the Good Friday Agreement ‘your decision’ poster, and a younger 3 year old James getting his height measured by his mum.

I’m in the process of capturing one of my earliest memories among the blurriness of early childhood years in a Loyalist estate in Belfast at the tail end of The Troubles. A work in progress that is getting adapted into a short illustrated story.

#kidlitart #kidlit #graphicnovel #comics

Comic illustration double spread page depicting a young boy in paddling pool and a soldier landing down in the garden.

The second part of my short illustrated graphic novel style story ‘The First Day I Never Forgot’, set to when I was a young child living with my family in a Loyalist estate in Belfast. Currently a work in progress, as I retell my earliest memory at the tail end of The Troubles. #illustration #comics

An illustration capturing James as a working illustrator, along with his clothes, tools, and utilities he uses. It purposely looks like a menu screen from Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Menu screen from Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Instead of using ChatGPT to make a caricature based on me and my job I used my own AI (Actual Imagination) to generate this image of me as a working illustrator (yes, I grew up playing the Ocarina of Time). #illustration #kidlitart #kidlit #zelda

An illustration capturing James as a working illustrator, along with his clothes, tools, and utilities he uses. It purposely looks like a menu screen from Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Menu screen from Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Instead of using ChatGPT to make a caricature based on me and my job I used my own AI (Actual Imagination) to generate this image of me as a working illustrator (yes, I grew up playing the Ocarina of Time). #illustration #kidlitart #kidlit #zelda

Illustration of a train speeding past a city landscape that looks a lot like Battersea in London. With two dogs as the commuters.

I was on a train in London recently, I enjoy people watching out the window and all the tall buildings speeding by. My carriage was occupied by commuters and their dogs, and it gave me the inspiration to draw this. My agent thinks it’s brilliant! #kidlitart #kidlit #illustration

Illustration of a train speeding past a city landscape that looks a lot like Battersea in London. With two dogs as the commuters.

I was on a train in London recently, I enjoy people watching out the window and all the tall buildings speeding by. My carriage was occupied by commuters and their dogs, and it gave me the inspiration to draw this. My agent thinks it’s brilliant! #kidlitart #kidlit #illustration

In case you missed Part 1 bsky.app/profile/jame...

Comic illustration double spread page depicting a young boy in paddling pool and a soldier landing down in the garden.

The second part of my short illustrated graphic novel style story ‘The First Day I Never Forgot’, set to when I was a young child living with my family in a Loyalist estate in Belfast. Currently a work in progress, as I retell my earliest memory at the tail end of The Troubles. #illustration #comics

In case you missed Part 1 bsky.app/profile/jame...

Sketchbook drawing of dogs on the train watching the world go by outside the window. City mimics London.

Sketchbook drawing inspired by seeing dogs on London trains and th city going by. #london #sketchbook #illustration

Sketchbook drawing of dogs on the train watching the world go by outside the window. City mimics London.

Sketchbook drawing inspired by seeing dogs on London trains and th city going by. #london #sketchbook #illustration

Photo of a London Underground station in South Kensington.

The London Underground reimagined as a sketchbook drawing with a dragon as a train and a medieval theme.

Underground sketching #sketchbook #London #illustration

Logan Paul was in Belfast this week, his presence has lowered the IQ of the whole city.

Graphic Novel Illustration featuring the Seymour Hill estate in Belfast. There is a a title that reads ‘The First Day I Never Forgot’. There is a colour scheme of red, white, and blue.

A graphic novel spread featuring terraced houses, the Good Friday Agreement ‘your decision’ poster, and a younger 3 year old James getting his height measured by his mum.

I’m in the process of capturing one of my earliest memories among the blurriness of early childhood years in a Loyalist estate in Belfast at the tail end of The Troubles. A work in progress that is getting adapted into a short illustrated story.

#kidlitart #kidlit #graphicnovel #comics

Pastel drawing of a Christmas scene featuring a frozen water fountain and Santa showing children around the North Pole. Other characters include elves, penguins, and a reindeer

Merry Christmas everyone!

Hand drawn illustration of a convenience store with a cat loafing in a newspaper rack.

Photo of the cat loafing in a newspaper rack.

Photo of James pointing at his work on display at the exhibition.

Thanks to all that came out to the Illustrators North exhibition.

Here’s my illustration inspired by convenience shops (with my previous local shop having a resident cat), and inspired by one of my favourite internet accounts Bodega Cats of NY.

The exhibition is on for the month of December!

Pastel drawing of a Christmas scene featuring a frozen water fountain and Santa showing children around the North Pole. Other characters include elves, penguins, and a reindeer

Not much longer to go now 🎄 #kidlitart #illustration #kidlitartist

Pastel drawing of a Christmas scene featuring a frozen water fountain and Santa showing children around the North Pole. Other characters include elves, penguins, and a reindeer

Not much longer to go now 🎄 #kidlitart #illustration #kidlitartist

Hand drawn illustration of a convenience store with a cat loafing in a newspaper rack.

Photo of the cat loafing in a newspaper rack.

Photo of James pointing at his work on display at the exhibition.

Thanks to all that came out to the Illustrators North exhibition.

Here’s my illustration inspired by convenience shops (with my previous local shop having a resident cat), and inspired by one of my favourite internet accounts Bodega Cats of NY.

The exhibition is on for the month of December!

Exhibition Poster for Smile Please by Illustrators North on 4th December 2025 at 6pm in Black Box Belfast

Hand drawn illustration of a black and white cat loafing.

I’m happy to announce that I’m exhibiting in the very first Illustrators North Annual exhibition celebrating the fantastically talented members, here in Northern Ireland!

The exhibition is happening on Dec 4th at the Black Box, Belfast from 6pm! Hope to see you there! Bring a friend!

#illustration

Exhibition Poster for Smile Please by Illustrators North on 4th December 2025 at 6pm in Black Box Belfast

Hand drawn illustration of a black and white cat loafing.

I’m happy to announce that I’m exhibiting in the very first Illustrators North Annual exhibition celebrating the fantastically talented members, here in Northern Ireland!

The exhibition is happening on Dec 4th at the Black Box, Belfast from 6pm! Hope to see you there! Bring a friend!

#illustration

I heard Chris Broad describe short-form content as 'fast food content', and I couldn't agree more.

Thanks to AI slop trying to find a quality birthday card for a family member has become so much harder.

Robin Williams' daughter has some quality thoughts on AI slop

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

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