James Guy Evans (1809 or 1810 – 1859) was an American naval mariner and artist. Self-taught as an artist, Evans is known for his paintings of 19th century sailing ships, which are held in numerous museum collections.
While significant details are known of Evans' naval career, comparatively less is known of his art career. A self-taught artist, it is believed that he began painting in watercolor in 1833.[3]
Following his service in the navy, and having returned from Minorca, he moved to New Orleans in 1846, where he opened a commercial painting studio.[2]
In December 1848, he was aboard the packet ship Ellerslie as it left New Orleans for Baltimore. He is described in contemporary accounts of the voyage as being both an artist and a minister. During the trip he produced a series of drawings commemorating the Ellerslie's captain's daughter, who died during the voyage.[5][6] The drawings, known as the Ellerslie Log, are held in the Peale Museum.[6]
In 1850-52 he took a partner in his New Orleans house, ship, sign and ornamental painting business, the German-born artist Edward Arnold (1824–1866).[2][7] Together they worked on a panorama of the city that was never finished, and also signed several other paintings that they did together.[4][8][9] In 1852-53, Evans took as a new partner an artist named Johnson, advertising their services in the newspaper as "Evans and Johnson House, Ship and Sign Painting, also, Historical, Marine and Ornamental Painting. Corner of Enghein and Poet Streets."[4]
Around 1853, Evans left New Orleans to return briefly to Cuba. Little is known of his remaining years; He died in 1859.