James Martin earned his B.F.A. in illustration at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Upon graduation, he worked for the comic legend Neal Adams as a storyboard and movie poster sketch artist. This resulted in a collaboration on a series of covers and illustrations with the artist. A freelance career in L.A.’s film and advertising industry followed.

His esteemed clients include: Lorne Michaels, Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, the Grammy Awards, Mattel, Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Disney Magazine, Lightstorm Entertainment, Marvel Comics, and directors James Cameron and Jean-Pierre Jeunet, for which he did commissions.
For over 20 years he has worked as a background painter, visual development artist, and as a texture and matte painter for both Walt Disney Feature Animation and DreamWorks Animation, on films such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Tarzan, Treasure Planet, Over the Hedge, Shrek Forever After, Puss in Boots and How to Train Your Dragon I and II.

Throughout his career, he has managed to continue perfecting his art while teaching at various major universities across the country, alongside his various activities in the film industry.

He is currently a professor in the illustration department at Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida.