James Nye was born in Kitchener and grew up in Ajax and Pickering. After graduating from high school he found myself with no ambition in his life and no insight into where it would take him. He moved to Vancouver Island where a slow and steady process of awakening took place. This is when he discovered painting. Within two years he was studying art full time at the Victoria College of Art. He graduated in 2002 and have since moved back to Ontario. Kitchener has been his home now since 2004.