James is originally from the Blue Mountains and has been playing the guitar for the better part of 20 years. He recieved his Bachelors of Music with Honours from the Sydney Conservatorium, and completed his Masters of Music at the Mozarteum University of Salzburg, Austria, with professor Marco Tamayo. In 2020 he returned to the Sydney Conservatorium to undertake his Doctor of Musical Arts degree with the internationally acclaimed Professor Vladimir Gorbach, which he completed in 2024, and is now engaged at the conservatorium as a casual lecturer and tutor.

James is an avid performer and teacher, with an active career across Sydney and abroad. He regularly performs as a soloist and as part of various chamber ensembles, and teaches out of his private studio in Redfern.