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James Whitelaw Hamilton was the son of a wealthy Glasgow manufacturer and moved to Helensburgh as a child. He initially entered into his father's business and at this time met James Guthrie and E.A. Walton painting with them at Cocksburnpath in 1883 as an amateur. In 1886 he finally decided to pursue his artistic studies and he went to Paris with his friend Joseph Crawhall studying under Dagnan - Bouveret and Aime Morot. When he returned to Glasgow he shared a studio with Alexander Roche. His landscape work tended to focus upon Berwickshire, Helensburgh and also English scenes (Yorkshire and Northumberland). He exhibited on the continent including Germany and in 1901 he was made a Chevalier of the Order of the Crown by the King of Italy. He exhibited at the RSA from 1885 until 1932. He became an Associate Member of the RSA in 1911 and an Academician in 1922.