Jim Hevener (self portrait) was born in Glen Ridge, New

  Jersey on January 3, 1927.
 

  He lived in Upper Montclair, New Jersey through his

  middle school years and transferred to Augusta Military

  Academy in Fort Defiance, Virginia. At 17 he enlisted in

  the Army Air Force. On being discharged he went to

  Parson's School of Design in New York City and

  attended their Paris School before graduating. Even though his desire was to paint and illustrate, he felt it was more prudent to pursue a career in advertising, which he did for 30 years as art director and creative director of several prominent agencies.

Jim's father was born on a family farm in Highland County, Virginia. This farm has
been in existence for over 200 years. He and his brothers came to Highland County each summer to stay with an aunt and uncle and other cousins. It was here he dreamed of being an artist and capturing the scenes that so deeply affected his senses while growing up in these mountains.

Jim married and had a son and a daughter and when they were "launched" he bought the farm of the aunt and uncle and retired with his wife to live the dreams of painting and the enjoyment of life in Highland County.

He spent the next 20 years painting many landscapes and portraits that are

living in the homes of many folks. Of all Jim's paintings, one of his proudest accomplishments was the portrait of Federal Judge George Revercomb. He

was a childhood friend and Jim regarded it an honor to have the portrait presented and hung in the Federal Courthouse in Washington, D.C.