A Life Across Oceans James Shaw was a man of many roles, a figure whose life was defined by movement and adaptation. Born in Dumfries, Scotland, in 1815, he began his adult life far from the landscapes that would later define his legacy. After studying law at the University of Edinburgh, he sought a different path, traveling to Jamaica in 1836 to work as a bookkeeper. It was during these years in the Caribbean that his talent for painting began to emerge from his spare time, drawing the attention of those around him and leading to his first commissions. By 1841, his professional life had shif…