Jim is a Johnson City, Tennessee artist who works in watercolor and oil, specializing in marine art.  He is a member of the Watauga Valley Art League and its Roving Gallery, The Southern Watercolor Society and a Signature Member of the Tennessee Watercolor Society.  He is also a member of national societies: American Society of Marine Artists, International Society of Marine Painters, US Coast Guard Art Program, and US Park Service Artist, of Cape Lookout National Seashore.

He received instruction locally from Polly Newell and Urban Bird, and has studied with national artists Homer Hacker, Tom Lynch and Mary Whyte.

Awards include: Best of Show Purchase Award - Carter County Scenes, Appalachian 
Fair - Best of Show (five years), United States Cost Guard 2005 - Best of Show, George Gray Award, United States Coast Guard - juried show (thirteen years) Tennessee Watercolor Society juried show and Virginia Highlands, juried show.  His work has been displayed locally in the Johnson City Municipal Building, SunTrust Banks, Unicoi Heritage Museum and in national locations including The Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Cape Lookout National Seashore, and in homes across the US.