Anthony Forster Biography
Widely acclaimed British watercolour artist Anthony Forster was born in 1941,
in Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent, North Staffordshire, between the moorlands and the once smoke laden skies of the bustling six towns that form the Potteries.
In the 1950’s attending the Staffordshire Junior Art school “Portland House” and from there on to Burslem College of Art in Queen street, stomping ground of the other Smallthorne born artist Arthur Berry.
From 1960 until 1967, he worked as a premiere ceramic artist in the prestigious Flambe department at Royal Doulton, Burslem, experiencing the giant pottery industry first hand. An active member of the Royal Doulton Art Society, for several years, Forster exhibited in the Society’s annual exhibition – often as a prizewinner.
From 1967 to 1977 he was a draughtsman honing his artistic skills with the accurate drawing required in the drawing offices of industrial giant GEC as a layout draughtsman and technical illustrator.
1967 was a happy year with a wedding in March, beginning a new life with his new wife Jill, a new home a new job and in December a new baby girl, Stephanie.
August 1970 saw the arrival of their second child another beautiful daughter Justine.
In 1972 tragedy struck the young Forster family – Jill, his wife, was taken ill and diagnosed a victim of Multiple Sclerosis, their daughters Stephanie and Justine were aged 4 and 2.
For six years, from October 1977, Anthony stayed at home to look after his family.
Jill passed away three days before Christmas 1983, aged 39 .
In September 1984, his first major one-man exhibition was staged, dedicated to the memory of his beloved Jill. It was opened by Sir Richard Bailey CBE, then chairman of Royal Doulton, at the gallery of Hood and Broomfield in Newcastle under Lyme.
One of England’s foremost narrative artists, he has never lost his love for the county of his birth, he still lives and works from his studio in May Bank, a district less than a mile north of Newcastle-under-Lyme..
Forster’s impressive body of work includes the scenes of the North Staffordshire towns, the Potteries, also the moorlands and the beautiful, ever-changing countryside that links them. From windswept moors to rolling pastures, his paintings delightfully convey Staffordshire’s infinite charm and surprise, evoking the simplicity of rural life and the bustle of the Potteries towns.
Since 1984 working closely with his agents/publishers Hood and Broomfield, Forster has produced hundreds of paintings. Many of these images being published as Limited Edition Prints have reached thousands of satisfied collectors of his work all over the world.
Between 1989 and 1994 Royal Doulton commissioned twelve paintings, comprising three series, each containing four works. The first four plates were produced in 1989 under the series title “Village Life”. These were so well received by collectors, that in response to popular demand a further four plates were introduced in 1993.
The theme was developed and the following year saw the introduction of another set of four, equally delightful, plates with the new series title of “Farmyard Companions”, adding to an ever increasing range of collectable representations of Forster’s work on china.
These last four were also published by Hood and Broomfield, introducing their “Signet” series of fine art prints.
The book by Michael Doulton … “Discovering Royal Doulton” shows the 2nd. set of four plates, and comments on the long-standing association that Forster has had with the firm, having at one time been an artist in the prestigious and world famous “Flambe” department at the Nile Street works in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.
He still teaches watercolour painting at three local venues for six months each year from September to March and also administers an on-line watercolour class.
Taken from Anthony Forsters website http://www.artbyforster.com/
