Matthew Foster studied Fine Art at Kent University from 2004 to 2006. He then worked for Joseph Clarke at the Millennium Gallery in St Ives. In 2015 he joined the Leach Pottery as the second Seasalt Bursary Apprentice, where he is now the studios production manager.

His main interest is in form, surface and gesture of making, always focused on the pot’s suitability to its function and aiming for his interpretation of the Mingei Philosophy . He is influenced by potters such as Shoji Hamada, Bill Marshall, Warren Mackenzie, John Reeve and the potters in the studio, and is currently looking at peasant stonewares of the Korean Yi dynasty, Gongxian pottery, Tang dynasty Chinese pottery and porcelain pots from the Chinese Sung period.