James grew up on a small family farm in North Herefordshire, UK .

After studying BA Applied Arts (1995-98) he moved to London to gain a Masters in production design for TV and Film at Kingston University (2000-2001). Since then, he has become an Oscar and BAFTA-winning production designer, celebrated for his work on Bugonia (2025), Poor Things (2023), Speak No Evil (2024), and The Iron Claw (2023).

James’ work showcases his affinity for merging realism with imaginative aesthetics, carefully balancing immersive and technical design to create striking worlds through visual storytelling.