James Bateman was born in Kendal, Westmorland, England on 22 March 1893 and studied sculpture at Leeds College of Art from 1910 and 1914. In 1914 was awarded a scholarship to continue his studies at the Royal College of Art in London but was unable to take up his place because of the outbreak of World War One in which he served in the Royal Flying Corps. Following the war, he attended the Slade School of Fine Art, University College, London from 1919 to 1921. He subsequently worked primarily as a painter and wood engraver. He also taught at Cheltenham Boys College from 1922 to 1928. He later taught at Hammersmith School of Art in London.

Bateman exhibited frequently at the Royal Academy in London from 1924 to 1959. His work was also shown at Barbizon House, Cooling & Sons Gallery, the Fine Art Society, New English Art Club, the Fine Art Society, Royal Society of British Artists, and Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers in London; the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool; Manchester City Art Gallery; the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh; and at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin. He participated in the 14th exhibition of the Arts & Crafts Exhibition Society at the Royal Academy in 1928.

He was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy (ARA) in 1935, a full member of the Royal Academy (RA) in 1940, and an Associate of the Royal Watercolour Society (ARWS) in 1948. He was also a member of the Cheltenham Group and the Cotswold Group.

During World War Two he served as a Camouflage Officer at the Civil Defence Camouflage Establishment for the Ministry of Home Security in Leamington Spa. In March 1940 he was commissioned to paint four pictures by the by the War Artists' Advisory Committee, of which he completed three. He was the author of 'Oil Painting' (London: The Studio, 1957).

Bateman's address was given as 3 Byron Road, St. Mark's, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in 1924 and 1931; 101 East Sheen Avenue, London in 1931 and 1939; "Greenhill", Leamington, Warwickshire in 1941 and 1943; 25a Glebe Place, London in 1945 and 1950; and 3 Chelsea Manor Studios, Flood Street, Chelsea, London in 1951 and 1959. He died on London on 2 August 1959.

_{Text source: Art History Research net (AHR net)}