James Mylne

James Mylne, born and based in London, has redefined the possibilities of the humble ballpoint pen.
Known for his hyper-detailed, photo-realistic drawings, he is recognised as one of Europe’s leading artists in the medium – described by The Ballpointer journal as “Britain’s premier ballpoint pen artist.”

His work often revisits cultural icons from the 1960s through the 1990s, rendered with serene precision and set against vivid backdrops.
Among his most celebrated works is McQueen Vision (2021), a portrait of Steve McQueen created during London’s lockdown. Based on a rare archival photograph, the drawing required 469 hours over the course of four months to complete.

Mylne’s drawings reveal not only extraordinary technical skill but also a meditation on patience, detail, and the enduring resonance of cultural memory.