Formally trained at the prestigious Ringling School of Art and Design, James Hoyle believes there are five elements that comprise a successful painting: observation, composition, knowledge, feeling and movement.

He cites Camille Pissarro as the dominant influence on his painting style because of the intricate underlying design of nature.

Equally important to Hoyle's style have been the prototypical Colourists, Monet and Gauguin. The sense of movement and emotion in Hoyle's paintings is the result of a close study of the works of Van Gogh.