Painter of portraits and still life, James Sleator was son of William Slator (different spelling, as James changed this, along with his middle name from Samuel to Sinton), who taught at Derryvane National School, near Portadown, and was later principal of Strandtown National School, Belfast.
Slade School of Fine Artist
Continuing his studies at the Slade School of Art, London, from there he went to Paris. He returned to Dublin in 1915 to become a teacher at the metropolitan. Five years later he went to Florence when he painted portraits and landscapes, finally returning to London where he set up a studio (1927) as a portrait painter and where he was closely associated with William Orpen.
He taught painting to Winston Churchill, taking over the job from Orpen.
He returned from London to Dublin in 1941 and, apart from an occasional journey abroad, remained there until his death (1950).
Sleator was a member of the Chelsea Arts Club and exhibited at the Royal Academy and with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. In 1935 he was made an honorary member of the Ulster Arts Club, Belfast.
