S. Christopher James

S.C. James is an award-winning designer, artist, and illustrator based in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, with over 30 years of experience in the creative industry.

He earned a BFA in Advertising Art from the University of North Texas, where he received multiple student awards, including selection for the prestigious New York Society of Illustrators student show. He later earned an MFA in Visual Communications from Marywood University in Scranton, PA.

After graduation, Steve began his career in advertising, holding roles as art director, creative director, and designer across print, web, and interactive media. He has developed campaigns for clients in healthcare, commercial real estate, food and spirits, oil and gas, transportation, periodicals, and retail.

In 1991, he founded Union Design Company, which began as a freelance studio and has since grown into a full-service visual communications hub, supporting both professional and personal projects. Steve’s work has been recognized in numerous publications and exhibitions across art, illustration, advertising, and design. In 2025, his work was awarded a platinum and a silver award in the 2025 Graphis Poster Annual.

As a contemporary artist, Steve works in traditional media such as printmaking, watercolor, and collage. Influenced by the Social Realism of the twentieth century, he often incorporates iconic imagery from that era to explore contemporary issues. Many of his pieces blend traditional and digital techniques, creating a dynamic, hybrid artistic expression. His work has been exhibited in art shows across the United States.

Steve also serves as a design lead for a major healthcare company and was a lecturer at East Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Arlington.