James Penniston Barraclough was a painter of portraits in oils. He lived and worked in London and exhibited mainly at the Walker Art Gallery, RA, RP and ROI, becoming a member of the latter in 1922.

Barraclough was the eldest child of three, born at 103 Market Street in Thornton, Yorkshire to Sarah Annie Barraclough and John Harold Barraclough, a jeweller and goldsmith. By the age of twenty in 1911 he was recorded as being an art student residing at 38 Richmond Road, Paddington, London in a rented room belonging to Mary Anna Parry.

In 1916 he married Gladys Maud Thompson in St Luke’s Church, Chelsea, and his profession is listed as a soldier rather than an artist. In 1917 he was based in France as part of the Royal Garrison Artillery where he received the Victory and British War Medals for service. The Barracloughs had a daughter Jillian Mary, who was born in 1918.