Abstract painter and teacher, born in Seaton Delaval, Northumberland. He studied at University of Newcastle upon Tyne from 1950–3 and 1955–7. During the 1960s had solo shows at Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, and University of Sussex, while taking part in group exhibitions, including John Moores Exhibition, Liverpool; there he gained a third prize in 1972 and a first prize in 1978. From 1970–1 Forster taught at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, teaching at Slade School of Fine Art from 1971. In 1975–6 Forster won an Arts Council Major Bursary, became artist-in-residence at Balliol College, Oxford, and showed at Museum of Modern Art there. In 1975–6 won an Arts Council Major Bursary, in 1976–8 the Gulbenkian Award. Was principal lecturer in painting at Camberwell College of Art, 1983–90, then at Chelsea College of Art and Design, 1990–7.