James Drummond RSA FSA was an artist and the curator of the National Gallery of Scotland from 1868 to 1877. He was also an early photographer.

He was born in 1816, in John Knox House in the Royal Mile, Edinburgh.

He studied at the Trustees Academy in Edinburgh under Sir William Allan.

He was a member of the Photographic Society of Scotland and was photographed by Hill & Adamson around 1843. He was also a member of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. In November 1876 he is listed as their Curator of the Museum, along with Robert Carfrae.

He produced a series of drawings of buildings in the Old Town later reproduced as lithographs.

In later life he lived at 8 Royal Crescent in the New Town of Edinburgh.