He was educated at Hazelwood School, a school founded by the educational reformer Rowland Hill (no relation), and he attended Joseph Barber's art academy in Great Charles Street, at the time being taught by his son Vincent.

There, he became known as a 'popular contributor' among his fellow artists, showing off his artwork in a number of their exhibitions across the next forty years.

He operated primarily in London, painting many portraits of Lady Burdett-Coutts, a Victorian philanthropist, and her many pets.

He died on 27 January 1882, aged 71, at Sutton House, London, having contracted bronchitis and was buried in a family grave on the west side of Highgate Cemetery.

His first child – also James John Hill – was born to an unknown mother in 1838, and the other four – Daniel, Emily, Thomas and Alfred – to Harriet Parsons.