Born and raised in the Canadian city of Regina, Saskatchewan, James M. Clow received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Regina in 1988, followed by a classical animation diploma from Ontario’s Sheridan College. After graduation, he spent over 20 years as a film animator living in Germany, England and the west coast of Canada. James animated for such companies as Universal pictures, Walt Disney and Dreamworks SKG, working for Steven Spielberg, Gary Larson and others. James returned to the prairies in 2001 to further his animation career as a teacher in Saskatoon, but more importantly to be closer to his aging mother. He soon became disillusioned with an industry that at the time was placing a decreasingly lower emphasis on classical animation artistry and he left to pursue other interests. After touring a potash mine, James was immediately inspired by the underground landscape. He became both an artist and a miner, working with an underground production crew to excavate potash from a mine near Colonsay, Saskatchewan. In September of 2019 underground production was halted and the site was shutdown. Many of his artistic works showcase prairie landscapes, sky and the circular grooves left in the rock walls by the potash miner. His works combine both acrylic or oil paint and 385 million year old potash into a highly textured and three dimensional painting. His award-winning work can be found in public, corporate and private collections In Canada, The USA, Mexico, Britain, Europe, Asia, and as far away as Australia.

James has always had a passion for living creatures, and the natural world that surrounds him and began birds and other creatures.

Awards include:

Meritorious Award, The Richeson75 International 2020, USA, for "Mortality".

Best of Show, The Crow Show 2020, Studio Door, San Diego, California (Juror: Judy Gradwohl), San Diego for "Yellowstone".

Pat Grove Memorial Award, Triple Blue Ribbon winner, Red Ribbon winner for 2nd Best In Show including all disciplines, Reflections of Nature 2019, Saskatoon, SK for "Aztec Rex".

Meritorious Award, The Richeson75 International 2018, USA, for "Arizona Sun King".

Meritorious Award, The Richeson75 International 2018, USA, for "Winter Glide".

Best of Show, The Crow Show 2018, Studio Door, San Diego, California (Juror: Roxana Velásquez, San Diego Museum of Art) for "Landing on Silver"

Blue Ribbon First in Division, 2017 Reflections of Nature Juried Art Exhibition, Saskatchewan Wildlife Art Association, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for "La Ronge Raven".

White Ribbon Third in Category, 2017 Reflections of Nature Juried Art Exhibition, Saskatchewan Wildlife Art Association, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for "The Other Side of the Fence"

White Ribbon Third in Category, 2017 Reflections of Nature Juried Art Exhibition, Saskatchewan Wildlife Art Association, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for "Silver Buffalo"

Peggy and Sandy Kerr Memorial Award, 2017 41st Winter Festival Juried Art Exhibition, Mann Gallery, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan for "Silver Buffalo" (Guest Curator Zachari Logan)

Blue Ribbon Best of Show, 2016 Reflections of Nature Juried Art Exhibition, Saskatchewan Wildlife Art Association, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for "Winter Glide"

Blue Ribbon First in Division, 2016 Reflections of Nature Juried Art Exhibition, Saskatchewan Wildlife Art Association, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for "Winter Glide"

Blue Ribbon First in Category, 2016 Reflections of Nature Juried Art Exhibition, Saskatchewan Wildlife Art Association, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for "Winter Glide"

Red Ribbon Second in Division, 2016 Reflections of Nature Juried Art Exhibition, Saskatchewan Wildlife Art Association, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for "Wish List"