James Stevenson was born in Gask, Perthshire, Scotland on 16 October 1837. From 1852 he attended classes with the artist Aitken Steil, following which he worked as an assistant to his father, James Stevenson (1812–1877), a builder, in Perth from 1853 to 1857. He was then articled to William Carmichael in Edinburgh from 1857 to 1860 and from 1860 to 1870 he was employed as an assistant to John Girdwood and James Girdwood of J. & J. Girdwood in Pall Mall, London.
Stevenson set up his own architectural practice in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland in 1870 and subsequently took his son, James Stevenson (1866–1931) into partnership.
He was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA) in 1911. He was also admitted a member of Northern Architectural Association in c.1889.
His address was given as South Bridge, Edinburgh, Scotland 1857 and 1860; 40, Pall Mall, London, England 1860 and 1870; and St. Andrews, 14, North Terrace, Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland in 1891 and 1927. He died at Craig House, 153 Morningside Drive, Edinburgh on 11 January 1927.
Architectural projects by James Stevenson included additions to and alterations on Callaly Castle, Northumberland; several churches in Northumberland, Berwickshire, and Roxburghshire; Museum and Arts School, Berwick; villas, farmhouses, cottages, &c, all over North of England and South of Scotland
For an additional list of architectural projects by James Stevenson see the Dictionary of Scottish Architects 1660-1980
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 2: L-Z. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001