A London landscape painter, James Edwin Meadows was the son of well known artist, James Meadows Senior, and came from a family with a strong artistic tradition.

Despite being based in London, James Edwin Meadows travelled extensively throughout Great Britain seeking inspiration for his landscapes, particularly concentrating on the Southern coastline. He frequently painted  views in Essex, Kent, Sussex, Surrey and the Isle of Wight.

James Edwin Meadows exhibited at the major London Galleries including the Royal Academy (1854-72), the British Institute and the Royal Society of British Artists.