James Tucker painter and teacher was born in Wallsend, Northumberland. He studied at the King Edward VII School of Art, Armstrong College, Newcastle, 1914-22, under Richard Hatton, then at the Royal College of Art, 1922-7, under William Rothenstein, for the latter two years acting as his studio assistant. Tucker won a travelling scholarship in his final year and went on to become head of drawing and painting at Gloucester College of Art from 1931-63. He showed widely and exhibited many works at the Royal Academy - where his painting The Champion was picture of the year in 1941. He Lived at Upton St Leonards, Gloucestershire.