Myles Birket Foster

Myles Birket Foster RWS (1825-1899) was an eminent British watercolourist and illustrator, celebrated for his idyllic depictions of the English countryside. Born in North Shields, Foster moved to London at a young age, where he was apprenticed to the wood-engraving firm of Ebenezer Landells. This early training instilled in him a keen eye for detail and composition, qualities that would later define his work.

Foster’s career began in earnest as an illustrator, contributing to several popular publications of the Victorian era, including the Illustrated London News and Punch. His wood engravings achieved considerable popularity, but it was his transition to watercolour painting that established his reputation as one of the leading artists of his time. In the 1850s, Foster began exhibiting regularly at the Royal Watercolour Society, of which he became a full member in 1862.

His paintings are characterised by their gentle, pastoral scenes, often depicting rural life in Surrey and the Home Counties. Foster had a particular fondness for the villages around Witley, where he eventually settled. His romanticised vision of country life, cottages covered in roses, children playing beside streams, and tranquil meadows, resonated deeply with Victorian sensibilities and the era’s nostalgia for a vanishing rural England. Foster’s use of delicate washes and precise draughtsmanship imbued his work with both charm and technical finesse.

In addition to his watercolours, Foster illustrated numerous books, including editions of Longfellow’s poems and works by Thomas Hood. His illustrations are notable for their clarity and narrative quality, often providing visual counterparts to the literary texts they accompanied.

Foster was widely admired by contemporaries and collectors alike. His works were frequently reproduced as prints and became highly sought after in both Britain and America. Despite immense popularity during his lifetime, Foster’s reputation declined somewhat in the twentieth century, as changing tastes favoured different artistic styles. However, recent years have seen a renewed interest in his paintings, appreciated anew for their craftsmanship and evocative charm.

Myles Birket Foster died in 1899 at his beloved home in Surrey, leaving behind a legacy of works that continue to captivate viewers with their celebration of the English landscape. His art remains a testament to the enduring appeal of rural Britain and the skill of Victorian watercolourists.