Born in Calgary in 1934, Slipper started painting at a very young age. He studied in Banff, Vancouver, Spain and finally Italy, where he found his inspiration in Renaissance Art. He lived in Hamilton, Ontario from 1960-65. It was here that he first created his Renaissance-inspired fantasy paintings. They showcase a deep interest in mysticism, mythology, and moral allegory, set in surreal landscapes, and brought about using a labour-intensive technique of layering paint and glazes. Slipper now lives with his wife, artist Annemarie Slipper, in San Miguel, Mexico.