James Atkins was born in Belfast. He trained with his father, who was a coach, house and sign painter in Belfast, and then at the Drawing School of the Belfast Academical Institution from 1817 to 1819. He was sent to Italy, sponsored by a group of patrons, and remained in Rome and Florence for the next thirteen years, during which time he became an accomplished portrait painter. In 1832 he went from Rome to Constantinople to paint the Sultan. He later moved to Malta, where he died. The contents of his studio was bought by Narcissus Batt, one of his patrons. His work was shown posthumously at the Belfast Association of Artists' exhibitions of 1836, 1837 and 1838.

Born:	1799
Died:	1833