Painter, draughtsman, printmaker, collagist, illustrator and teacher, born in London, who attended Hornsey School of Art, 1944–51, part-time 1951–4. After nine years teaching art in Dagenham and London Schools, and printmaking at the Working Men’s College, he was appointed to the College of St Mark and St John, 1960, transferring with it from Chelsea to Plymouth in 1973, retiring as head of department in 1980 to paint full-time. During the 1960s, Slater did book illustrations for Cambridge University Press; made several lithographic editions at Curwen Press for Consolidated Fine Arts, New York; and completed mural and ceramic mural commissions. A romantic, dreamlike quality pervaded much of Slater’s work, which often involved figures in landscape.
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He participated in numerous mixed shows, including RA; RI, to which he was elected, 1999; RSMA; Alresford Gallery in Alresford; Cowfold Gallery at Cowfold; Savage, St George’s and John Whibley Galleries, and elsewhere. Awards included first prize in the Drake 400 competition, sponsored by Plymouth City Council, 1980; first prize in the watercolour competition sponsored by Becton Dickinson, Plymouth, 1982; first prize, South West Open Figurative Art Competition, sponsored by Western Morning News, 1991; and RI Medal for most outstanding painting by a non-member, Mall Galleries, 1992. Showed solo with John Whibley, 1974, later exhibitions including Sterts Arts Centre, Cornwall, 1992. In 2001, he shared a show with Roland Collins at Duncan Campbell Fine Art. Prince Albert Museum in Exeter, Nuffield Foundation and several local authorities hold examples. Lived in Landrake, Saltash, Cornwall.
Text source: 'Artists in Britain Since 1945' by David Buckman (Art Dictionaries Ltd, part of Sansom & Company)