After obtaining a BA in Humanities, Ceramics and Art History from the Polytechnic of Wales in 1987, James (Royal Photographic Society's Colin Ford Awardee) arrived in Birmingham in 1986 to study the History of Photography, and Art & Design at Birmingham Polytechnic for his MA then became a Curator of Photography Collections at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
After obtaining a BA in Humanities, Ceramics and Art History from the Polytechnic of Wales in 1987, James arrived in Birmingham in 1986 to study the History of Photography, and Art & Design at Birmingham Polytechnic for his MA, which he received in 1989. He curated photographic exhibitions internationally and served as chair of the Committee of National Photography Collections, as well as receiving the Royal Photographic Society's Colin Ford Award. He was Curator of Photography Collections  a post created for him  at Birmingham Central Library (latterly the Library of Birmingham) from January 1989 to October 2015. 
