[1] Senior member of the Staithes group of artists, he had a studio at Runswick Bay for many years.

Inspired by French Impressionists such as Monet, Cézanne and Renoir, the group of about 25 artists worked together in plein air, in oil or watercolour.

Foster was educated at the Leeds Grammar School prior to receiving training at his father's studio.

He took his students from Leeds School of Art (one of whom was Hilda Annetta Walker)[3] to the area for sketching expeditions and was very supportive of the younger artists.

His paintings are in the permanent collections of several public art galleries including Kirkleatham, Whitby, Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Hull and Manchester[6]