James was born in Lossiemouth, Scotland. A natural and compulsive artist, he drew and painted from his earliest years, which marked the beginning of a life-long passion for art.

After qualifying and practising as a doctor for seven years the desire to make art would not go away and in 1993 he made a complete career change turning full time to painting. Since then he has trained with distinguished artists in the South West and receive tuition at the Slade School of Fine Art in London. Proficient in watercolour, oils and the art of etching, he is best known for his atmospheric pastel landscape.

Over the past six years he has adopted Dartmoor as a special source of inspiration and is to be found in all weathers drawing this unique and changeable landscape.