Stevedore. Travel and adventure have been a big part of war artist 's life. Born in 1907 in Calcutta, India, he and his family immigrated to Canada and settled in Toronto in 1928. He studied art in London, England, and Paris and held teaching positions in Ontario before his life took another significant turn in 1943. That's when the National Gallery of Canada asked him to paint a merchant navy convoy from Halifax to Jamaica. Forster went into the job with enthusiasm, believing it would pave the way to more opportunities. In October 1944, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. The works created during his earlier run with the merchant navy served as a bridge to his commission as a war artist in November of that year. However, before For...