Born in Florida in 1973, James grew up the son of a naval officer and moved frequently throughout his childhood. After graduating from high school from the American School of Madrid, James attended Virginia Tech and graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Architecture. During that period James began taking art classes and creating works in pastel and oils, initially with an architectural theme, but eventually leaning towards abstraction. Since 1997 James has resided in the Seattle area and has been included in numerous shows in the Pacific Northwest, as well as several national shows. James is also a practicing Architect and has work in the collection of the Coos Art Museum in Coos Bay Oregon.