Michael Forster (1907 - 2002) English Canadian, Two trees in abstract landscape, initialled and dated 1980, oil on canvas mounted on board, framed, 45 x 59 cm

Michael Forster was an Anglo-Canadian abstract artist. Born in Kolkata, India, Forster spent most of his childhood in Merrut. He studied at the Central School of Arts and Crafts, as well as the Académie Colarossi in Paris. In 1927–1928, he moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada in hopes of avoiding The Great Depression. His work is heavily influenced by the Surrealist movement, and he claimed to never plan any of his compositions but created them according to the demands of his subconscious. Canadian art critic Paul Duval deemed him "Canada's pioneer surrealist." He continued to have a successful career in Canada and Mexico until he decided to return to England after the death of his wife in 1974. He spent his final years in retirement at Treen in Cornwall.