James is a former Chairman of the South Wales Art Society and has exhibited many paintings at the Tanyard, Tongynlais [with fellow artists Arnold Lowrey and Bruce Mepham] over a 10 year period. He has won many prizes for his work which has sold widely. Typical is the picture featured which hangs in the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth . His forte is pastel and local scenes of Cardiff Bay, Penarth and Castell Coch are typical subjects.