Brought up in Belfast, James Allen attended Annadale Grammer School where he was taught by Kenneth Jamison. He studied at Belfast College of Art 1961-65 and at Brighton College of Art 1965-67.

From 1967 to 1970 he taught etching at Goldsmith's College, University of London and at Ravensbourne College of Art. He is married to the artist and printmaker Sophie Aghajanian. They lived at Shoreham-by-Sea Sussex until 1976 when they came to Belfast where James Allen set up the Arts Council Printmaking Workshop which he runs as the Belfast Print Workshop.