James Wylie was born in Hamilton Street, Saltcoats on 28th May 1865. His father was James, a Seaman in the Merchant Service and his mother was Catherine Murchie.
His artistic abilities were recognised at an early age, and he later attended the Glasgow School of Art. He combined his studies with teaching and eventually took up a post as art master at Stevenston Public School.
His paintings were exhibited in Paisley and Glasgow as well as the New Cunninghame Art Club, of which he was a founding member. He rubbed shoulders with other well known local artists including George Houston and Chris Meadows and he met Sir John Lavery later on in life.
He was honorary president of the North Ayrshire Museum Association and provided them with a number of his paintings depicting local scenes of years gone by.
He was also a member of the Saltcoats Literary and Debating Society and of the Society of Six along with fellow artists, George D Guthrie, George C Guthrie, Tom Gilfillan, Chris Meadows and Robert Clouston Young, RSW.
His work can be seen on the walls of the High Kirk in Stevenston.
He was married twice, first to Jeanie Leitch in 1890 until she died aged 44, they had 5 children together. He then married Mary Craig in 1913 and they were together until she died in 1947. He lived most of his life in Stevenston, latterly at “Hazelwood” in the High Road.
James died on the 8th of November, 1960 at the Kilmarnock Infirmary aged 95 years and is buried in Ardrossan Cemetery.