James Langley is a native of Camden, Arkansas. He attended college at Henderson State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science and Education degree with a major in Art. He was also commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army and served in the Army Reserves for 14 years until his call to the ministry. James moved to Arkadelphia and taught Art in the Arkadelphia Public School system from 1979-1986. Since then, James has worked in office supply sales, industry and corrections. James is now employed by the Arkansas Department of Corrections as a Correctional Counselor and the Clark County Sheriff's Officer as a Jailor.

James's work has been shown in several exhibitions in the Ouachita County area and has won 1st place in painting at the first annual Fesitval of Two Rivers in Clark County. His work has also been exhibited in Miller, Jefferson, Saline, Faulkner and Clark Counties.

James does mostly portrait art, but his love for animals has inspired several paintings and drawings of animals. Horses, goats, dogs and other domestic animals are pictured in a type of "Animal Genre" that he says depict human-like character traits in their perfected state.