Jim Gilmore was born in Lyttleton, Canterbury, New Zealand in 1941 and trained at Canterbury University School of Fine Arts from 1961 to 1964. He attended Auckland teachers college in 1965 and began teaching art in Southland a year later.

In 40 years of teaching Jim has maintained an eclectic interest in visual arts, including printmaking, sculpture, jewelley, calligraphy and painting. Presently he is involved in producing kinetic sculptures in brass and is venturing into new areas of printmaking.

Jim works from his studio in Invercargill surrounded by native bush and birdsong, he also has a wonderful vegetable garden.