About
James was born on Mersea Island and can trace at least 200 years of his ancestors there. He studied Graphic Design at Colchester School of Art from 1979 to 1983. After many years working as a freelance graphic designer his interest in painting was re-kindled when he and his family moved back to Essex from Cornwall. He then started full-time as an artist, initially painting in watercolour and more recently in pastel. He now lives on Mersea Island working from a studio overlooking the harbour & marshes.
James owns and runs the Artcafé in West Mersea with his wife Maggie and their daughter Jenny. Here he regularly exhibits his work, James’ paintings are in many collections both here and abroad. In 2005 his work was included in the Anglia T.V. series 'Coastal Inspirations' about artists living and working around the coast of East Anglia.
In 2020 when the Earl & Countess of Wessex visited Mersea Island James was one of the artists chosen to meet and show them his work.
“In my work I try to portray the deep feeling I have for the landscape around this very unique part of the coast. I regard drawing & painting, ‘mark making’ as central to everything I do and within my realist approach the aim is to develop my own visual language in response to the subject.”
