It could be said that celebrity hairdresser and art director, James Brown, brings a star quality to farming – tending to his animals in Co. Galway when he’s not working on the crowning glory of luminaries, such as his friend, Kate Moss.
The youngest hairstylist to work on a Vogue magazine cover shoot, he may enjoy a jet set lifestyle and a brimful of celebrity clients, but there’s nothing he likes more than escaping A-lister schedules and heading to his farm in Loughrea.
Born to Irish parents – his mother is from Co. Clare and his father is a native of Co. Fermanagh – one of six children, James was brought up in Croydon in south London.
He worked in a local hairdressers as a teenager and grew up with Kate Moss.
When James was aged 22 and Kate was aged 17, they shot their now famous Vogue magazine cover. It paved the way for James to work in top London salons and then to open his own.
He quickly built up a celebrity client list from David Bowie to Celine Dion, working between London and New York. Being flown to New York on Concorde to do hair was all part of the job.
While he no longer has his own salon – he said it was keeping him away from his time in Ireland too much – he still has Kate Moss as a friend and client and a very busy lifestyle.
Being a “grafter” all his life brought about his success, he said.
James bought the 60ac farm in Loughrea in 2006.
“It had an old stone house with no water, windows, etc,. I completely rebuilt it from the ground up. I have sheep, horses, sometimes a few cows, hens, cats and dogs.
“As I travel lots worldwide, I needed consistency. My family all understand farming and my love for this place.
“I could be anywhere in the world but I chose here as it’s the best place in the world as far as I’m concerned. My friends think I’m crazy though,” he said.
“The local community is amazing, all very low key which is fantastic with my hectic schedule and I’m incredibly happy here. I come here as much as possible, more and more as the years pass. Lots of my friends have been but I’m not naming names,” James added.
“They come here, they chill out. It’s all very low key and no one is any the wiser,” he said of his celebrity visitors.
James has been to the mart in Loughrea a few times and his favourite pub in the area is Gordons in Tynagh: “It does the best breakfast in Ireland,” he said.
Through his new magazine D’NALERI which can be bought online and in hard copy, James is working to give a platform to local talent “so they can stay in the best place in the world” as he puts it.
“The magazine is an explanation and celebration of the Irish creativity shaping the world we live in,” James said in his introduction as editor in chief.
The goal, James said, is to curate and showcase the rich tapestry of global work threaded by Irish connection: “We aim to bridge the gap between those who have already made their mark and those who are on the cusp of it, all the while highlighting the vibrant diversity of our global creative community.”
Bridging the gap is something that James is good at, given the ease at which he combines the worlds of artistry and agriculture.