Jim Norton was born with a paintbrush in his hand and a pigeon perched on his shoulder. His teenage years were spent taking art classes and playing high school football and basketball. He spent most of his life in the western states, but claims Wyoming as home, where he is building a cabin studio.

His education in the field of art began as a youngster watching his grandfather, Earl Fausett, paint in his basement studio. Jim continued his art education at Western Wyoming College and Brigham Young University. He has furthered his informal education by traveling to museums in Russia, Canada and the United States. “If you want to be a great artist, you can learn from the masters themselves and the museums are full of them.”

Jim was invited to become a member of the Cowboy Artists of America in 1989. At the 2010 CAA show Jim received the Stetson Award for his body of work and a Gold Medal for Oil Painting for The Lifetime.

He resides with his wife, Pam, and their four children in Santaquin, Utah.