Robert Shekleton Balfour was born in Stirling, Scotland on 7 March 1869 and was articled to Hippolyte Jean Blanc (1844-1917) in Edinburgh, Scotland. He also attended Edinburgh College of Art. He qualified as an architect in 1893 and the following year established his own architectural practice in London. Soon after, or possibly at the same time, he formed a partnership with William Alfred Pite (1860-1949) as Pite & Balfour. They remained in partnership until 1907.
Balfour was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1893 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1906. He was awarded the RIBA Silver Medal (Drawings) in 1892. In 1906-07 he was President of the Architectural Association. He died in Sidmouth, Devon, England on 7 November 1942
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001