About James Jones

Up and coming Welsh photographer James Jones was born in Pontypool, South Wales. After working in engineering for thirty years as a steelworker for Corus in their Llanwern plant, Jones decided to follow his true passion of photography, an art he had been refining for over fifteen years.

A versatile artist with an eye for detail in everyday things, Jones’ focus is on producing images of both the rural and urban landscapes of South Wales, documenting the legacy of its industrial past and subsequent regeneration. Through his work, Jones is keen to promote the beauty and diversity of his country, and hopes to inspire people to take the time to explore the area for themselves and find their own small place of tranquility within this beautiful country.

Jones offers a unique viewpoint of his Welsh roots with photographs that tell a story and take the viewer on a personal journey. Since beginning his professional career in photography Jones has sold work both nationally and internationally and his photographs can be seen in many locations throughout Wales.

 A Personal View
As a Welshman and coming from an industrial background, Jones was always fascinated by both the history and architecture of Wales’ industrial past. ‘Today’s Wales was built on coal and steel and I feel that this past should be documented through the medium of photography for future generations, so that they can appreciate the struggles their forefathers endured.’

 Wales has a varied and beautiful landscape  and amongst the wonders of the wider world, both naturally and architecturally Jones tells us that he feels incredibly fortunate ‘to be living surrounded by awe inspiring backdrops that I can document at any time I wish’. Going on to explain that as a ‘local’ boy Jones had  ‘the advantage of familiarity with parts of this wonderful country’, he still recognises that his collection only scrapes the surface of  the potential Wales has to offer and he has set himself the goal of expanding this at every possible opportunity, something he views as ‘a lifetime’s goal’

Unlikely beginnings
Jones started his career by training as a fitter/turner in the late 70s, and then spent the next 15 years working in the aerospace industry, manufacturing components for jet engines. supplying companies such as Rolls Royce and Pratt & Whitney. In the early 90s he went on to take up a position as a crane driver with British Steel at their Llanwern Steelworks, working there until taking voluntary redundancy. His plan being to fulfil his dream of a professional career in photography.

During Jones’ time spent working in industry he developed a keen interest in country sports such as clay pigeon shooting, representing various national clubs at county, national and ultimately international level.

Jones’ attraction to photography stems from his boyhood fascination with his father’s 35mm camera. ‘I can still remember it vividly, European by design, all steel body, encased in a beautiful leather case. It held a great attraction for me’. As he grew older Jones’ interest in the artistic side of photography grew and developed. Originally more interested in the image and composition than the technical side, the advent of new technologies over the years, and digital photography, has awoken a deeper interest in the technical aspect and how it can be used to enhance and manipulate the image.

Jones explains, ‘Although I have been consumed by photography for some years I feel that my technique and vision is constantly developing. I am learning all the time’. With a passion for the artistic origin of each image, some of Jones’ favourite places to photograph in Wales are in the eastern valleys. This where he was born and now lives, encompassing spectacular views such as the Brecon and Monmouthshire Canal, Blaenavon and Pontypool. Jones has also enjoyed documenting the beauty of Cardiff Bay with its wealth of photographic opportunities, and the Brecon Beacons, which he finds ‘an inspiring landscape on which to shoot’.

My vision is to produce images that are true to life, but still, even with my pictures of the local, sometimes harsh, landscapes, to convey the beauty that exists in each of my photographs. I hope to introduce a wider audience to the magic of the welsh country and to inspire people to look more closely at everyday landscapes that they may sometimes take for granted.

A family man, Jones is the proud father of two children, Cara and Gabriel and resides in east Wales with his wife Sarah who has supported him in his pursuit of fulfilling his photography dreams.