James studied at Manchester Metropolitan University and in Ireland, establishing his current studio at Over Kellet, Lancashire in 2005.

 James is widely recognised for his technical mastery of large works. Most pieces are wheel thrown, including his bottles, which are then altered with a base and neck added, resulting in strong seamless forms. The bottles are fired on their sides so that the glaze creates spontaneous dynamic effects.

 James places emphasis on using locally-sourced materials for his clay, slips and glazes, including his versions of classic Japanese glazes such as Nuka and Tenmoku.