James Reynolds

James Reynolds began his career as an artist after serving in the United States Navy in World War II. On his voyage home after his tour of duty ended he asked to borrow a companion’s painting kit to help pass the time and found his vocation. He studied at the Kann Institute of Art in Beverly Hills for one year and four years at the School of Allied Arts in Glendale, California.

After art school, he found work in the art department at Fox Studios. He went on to create artwork for most of the major studios. He left Hollywood and settled on a ranch near Sedona, Arizona in 1968. He continued to work as an illustrator and also exhibited his work in various exhibitions and competitions. In 1992, he was the first artist to win the prestigious Prix de West International Award, along with the Gold Medal for best oil and Buyer's Choice Award, all in a single year.

In 1997 his book Traildust - Cowboys, Cattle, and Country using his paintings as the backdrop for his tales of the cowboy and American west. Late in his career he began focusing on landscapes.