James Frederick Wilson was born in Newport, Wales on 4 March 1887. He studied at the Art and Technical Institute in Newport and under Cecil Arthur Hunt (1873-1965).
He subsequently worked in the offices of the architects Sir Herbert Baker (1862-1946) and Sir John Burnet & Partners.
In the 1934 edition of Who's Who in Art his occupation is given as Architect, however, it is not known if he practised the profession. He worked primarily as a painter, etcher and drypoint artist.
Between 1919 and 1927 he exhibited at Chenil Gallery, Grosvenor Gallery, Goupil Gallery, the Royal Academy and the Royal Society of British Artists in London. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Society of British Artists (ARBA) in 1919, and a full member of the Society (RBA) in 1922.
A painting by Wilson entitled "Twyn Barlwm, Mon." is illustrated in Colour vol.7, no.5, December 1917 (p.98).
He died in Brentwood, Essex on 2 November 1935. At the time of his death he was living in 2 Stanhope Gardens, The Drive, Ilford, Essex
Who’s Who in Art. Edited by Bernard Dolman. London: The Art Trade Press, 3rd edition, 1934