Samantha Foster is a British artist and educator whose practice is grounded in a deep appreciation for materiality and process.
My current body of work, Nature's Anatomy, explores the tree as both a living organism and a metaphor for interconnectedness. Primarily through dry point etching, I examine the hidden structures of roots and branches: forms that mirror systems of memory, growth and ecological balance. The process becomes a means of mapping unseen networks, tracing the silent exchanges that sustain life beneath the surface. Each print functions as both documentation and interpretation. They invite the viewer to consider how natural forms can record time, not as a straight line but as a network of lived experiences, scars and persistence. Nature's Anatomy invites reflection on our relationship to the natural world asking how the rhythms of trees might echo our own patterns of connection and belonging.
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Drypoint Etching
Recent drypoint works made with ink on paper.
Monotype
One-off, hand-finished impressions.
Intaglio Tetrapak Print
Intaglio prints made from re-purposed tetrapak plates.
Process
The etched surface captures the tactile energy of mark-making. Every mark holds the memory of the hand with the trace that becomes visible with the addition of ink layers. The physical engagement with the medium mirrors the themes within my work: endurance, transformation and the passage of time.
My practice begins with walking. Spending time observing trees and their structures and how they transform through light, weather and seasons. I translate these through photographs and sketches before finally embarking on the etching plate.
Bio
Samantha Foster is a British artist and educator whose practice is grounded in a deep appreciation for materiality and process.
After earning a BA (Hons) in Furniture Conservation from Buckinghamshire New University, Samantha began her career as a conservator of high-class decorative art, paintings and antiques, developing a meticulous understanding of form, materials and historical context.
Building on this foundation, Samantha completed an MA in the History of Art & Architecture from the University of Reading, expanding her engagement with cultural and theoretical dimensions of visual art. Her dissertation focussed on the act of walking as an artistic practice. By examining both historical and contemporary approaches to art walks and trails, she explored how movement through the landscape shapes artistic process and generates narrative. This research continues to inform her own practice where observation, time and the act of walking remain central to how she engages with place and translates experiences into print.
For over sixteen years, Samantha has taught Art and Photography at secondary level, inspiring young artists to explore creative expression through both traditional and digital media. Through teaching, she has developed a strong appreciation for the rhythms of creative learning and the importance of process. Now she is focussing on her own practice, returning to sustained observation, experimentation and the quiet dialogue between artist, landscape and mark-making.