Lighting designer James Proudfoot was born in Edinburgh and has been based in Vancouver since 1993. He received his early theatre training in Scotland. For twelve years, he served as Technical Director at the Firehall Arts Centre, where he also worked as lighting designer for the Firehall Theatre Company. He has been Lighting Director for the Dancing on the Edge Festival for over twenty years.
From 2014 to 2021, he was Lighting Designer and Lighting Director for Ballet BC, creating designs for more than twenty works. Within the field of dance, he has collaborated with numerous companies and choreographers, including NDT 2, Gibney Dance, Ballet Jazz Montréal, Company 605, Co. Erasga, Wen Wei Dance, Joe Ink, EDAM, Out Innerspace, Holy Body Tattoo, MACHiNE NOiSY, Tara Cheyenne Performance, Justine A. Chambers and plastic orchid factory.