James was born with an identical twin, Theodore, who is a sculptor, in Norfolk, England in 1972. He gained a degree in Landscape Architecture from Cheltenham and Gloucester College in 1993. All his stretchers, canvasses, panels, oils, glues, waxes, varnishes and paints he makes by hand in order to achieve the effects he seeks. Each picture represents the coming together of a complete and exacting set of physical and intellectual demands. Gabriele Finaldi (Museo del Prado) talking about his work; 'James Gillick's painting belongs to a venerable tradition. An art historian cannot help but sense in his works the distinguished genealogy of William Nicholson, Morandi and Fantin-Latour.'