Growing up in a peripatetic family, Jake developed an interest in art from an early age. At thirteen, he began painting under the tutelage of oil painter Alan Rash. Continuing his artistic journey, he enrolled in Art and Design at Kingston upon Thames School of Art, where he immersed himself in the experimental philosophies and practices of the contemporary art scene.
He later studied Animation and Visual Effects at Falmouth University, drawn by the idea of creating moving paintings. Following his degree, Jake returned to his traditional oil painting practice and, seeking further technical and philosophical refinement, joined the Charles H. Cecil Atelier, where he continues his studies. There, he has undertaken rigorous training in the sight-size method of portraiture, working within a tradition shaped by masters such as Van Dyck, Velázquez, and Sargent.