After graduating in 2002 with an MA Fine Art from Central Saint Martins, James worked in the cultural sector, before returning to a regular art practice 17-years later. Since then, he has been shortlisted for the Bridget Riley Fellowship (2023-24) and Derwent Art Prize (2022), been selected for the RA Summer Exhibition (2021), won the Mervyn Metcalf Purchase Prize at the ING Discerning Eye Exhibition (2021), and was awarded a special commendation at the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize (2020). His work is held in the UK Government Art Collection and private collections in the UK, USA and China.