'8 to 80' celebrates an extraordinary artistic journey spanning eight decades. From James’ earliest drawings as a young boy on the family farm at Boggabri to a lifetime of painting landscapes, rural life, local buildings, still life and scenes inspired by travels throughout Australia and overseas from Mongolia to Antarctica, this retrospective reveals an artist whose greatest gift has always been the ability to look closely and paint with honesty, warmth and remarkable skill.

More than a retrospective, 8 to 80 offers a rare glimpse beyond the finished paintings. Visitors are invited to explore the artist's journals and visual diaries, discover a new collection of watercolours created especially for this exhibition, and view works drawn from across eighty years of painting in a second gallery space.

Original unframed works from James’ archive will also be available, providing a unique opportunity to acquire a piece from this remarkable lifetime of artistic practice.