James le Jeune was born in Canada to an Irish mother and French/English father, but lived in Brittany from the age of two. After a period of study in Paris, he went on to Heatherley’s Academy and the Byam Shaw School in London, and then to the Student’s League in New York. Returning to London he formally studied architecture at the London Polytechnic before joining the British Army to serve in Africa and Italy during World War II.
Following his service le Jeune worked as a architect but be
gan exhibiting paintings at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, and in 1950 exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy. In that year he moved to Ireland, and began exhibiting at the RHA where he was elected a full member in 1973. While living in Ireland he continued to exhibit in London, but his first solo show was held at Victor Waddington Galleries in Dublin in 1954, and he contributed regularly to Water Colour Society of Ireland shows. Le Jeune’s work can be found in the collections of the National Gallery, Abbey Theatre, National Self-Portrait Collection and Crawford Gallery, while many examples are found in private collection in America where he occasionally painted.
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