James Kay (22 October 1858 - 26 September 1942) was a Scottish artist notable for his paintings of the landscapes and shipping around the River Clyde.

Born on the Isle of Arran, Kay spent much of his working life with a studio in Glasgow and living at Portincaple on Loch Long in Argyll and Bute.

Primarily a landscape artist, Kay is best known for his portrayals of "the glory of the busy shipping reaches of the Clyde".

He exhibited at the Salon in Paris in 1894, and at 1895's La Libre Esthétique in Brussels was awarded an honourable mention.

In 1907 his painting Launch of the Lusitania was purchased by the Corporation of Glasgow for the city's art collection.