The survey began in 1988 as interviews with artists, jewellers, fashion designers and furniture restorers, based at Old Loom House Studios, Whitechapel, launching a quarterly review Cv Journal of Art and Crafts. Cv Journal was published to 1992 and the collection of interviews, features and reviews provided the foundation of the Cv/Visual Arts Research archive and subsequent publications. In Cv/VAR 104 the celebrated artist David Medalla gives an extensive interview, in which he discusses his advent to the literary and art scenes of Paris and London at a significant point of change in 1960. He recalls his introduction in Paris by Man Ray, Marcel Duchamp, Raymond Duncan and Gaston Bachelard, who admired his original kinetic sculpture, The Bubble Machine.

Studied Painting at the Slade School of Art UCL 1966-70, under artists Frank Auerbach and Keith Vaughan. MA History of Art Kingston University. 1973-78 founded and directed The Gallery London, 65a Lisson Street, producing combne projects in collaboration with John Latham, Vaughan Grylls, Stephen Willats, John A. Walker, Rita Donagh, Tony Rothon, Gerald Newman and Jonathan Miles.1989-91 With Sarah Batiste edited and published a quarterly review Cv Journal of Art and Crafts. 1992 founded Cv Publications, 1995 founded Cv/Visual Arts Research, publishing interviews with artists and curators, books amd monographs authored by Edward Lucie-Smith, Marina Vaizey, Anne Blood, James Cahill and Magdalena Wasiura. Presently operates Philip James Studio based at Candid Arts Trust, Islington North London.