Jake Ayres – Portfolio
“Ned needed a bed and a barn on a farm seemed a fine house for a mouse…”
Ned Needed a Bed is a rhyming picture book about a mouse who steps out of his comfort zone in search of a bed. Ned’s journey begins when his cowardice gets the better of him, and ends when a weary act of courage results in an unlikely friendship and a new home.
Story word count: 622
Check out the layouts for A Bed For Ned.
Single pages
Click here to see individual page art
Double pages
Click here to see double-page spreads
Old art
Click here to see the first-draft artwork and story
Jake Ayres
Writer / Illustrator
Drawing has always been a hobby of mine, however my interest in writing began several years ago when a translation job application required me to write an original short story. My first attempt didn’t earn me an interview, but writing became a habit, and after a couple of years of penning short stories for my own amusement, I applied again and got the job. Jump forward a few years, and I now work as a co-producer at a Japanese animation studio—a role which has allowed me a degree of creative input in several original productions.
I have always wanted to create a children’s picture book, and look forward to the day I can share my original creations with my daughter.