James studied fine art at Thurrock Technical College and comes from a family of artists including celebrated Irish painter Tom W. Quinn. He rediscovered painting in 2013 and finally started to work with some serious intent. His influences include Kyffin Williams, Lucien Freud and Tai Shan Shierenberg among others. His work is primarily portraiture and he tries to capture the essence of his sitters using loose mark making in oils while striving for a good likeness. “I love looking at faces and finding that curve of the mouth or that twinkle in the eye that makes you, unmistakably, you.” James has exhibited at several events over the last few years including group shows at London’s Espacio Gallery and is a regular fixture at the Essex Open Art Exhibition. At the beginning of 2018 James was commissioned to paint 16 portraits for the London West End production of Chess written by Tim Rice, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and starring Michael Ball. He has most recently been selected to show work at the Mall Galleries “Figurative Art Now” exhibition in London.