Jeffrey Ellse was born and raised in Medford, Massachusetts. He attended the Art Institute of Boston, studying under artists such as Damon Lehrer, Anthony Apesos, George Nick, Ken Beck, Daphne Confar, John Lanza, Jim Hoston, Tim Peck and Amy Sudarsky. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2004. His work is influenced by painters such as Antonio Lopez Garcia, Euan Uglow, Velázquez, Lucien Freud, and Indian Miniature paintings. He is currently working towards his Master's degree and lives with his wife on the south shore of Massachusetts.