Biography
Ray Smith (b. Harrow, Middlesex, UK 1949 - d. Tintinhull, Somerset, UK 2018) graduated from Trinity Hall College, Cambridge, 1971, after he had already had his first solo show in Cambridge in 1970. Smith was a self-employed artist from 1974, mainly working to commission. Among his major public commissions were works for Southampton General Hospital, 1985; Tesco Stores, Slough, 1990; Milton Keynes Development Corporation, 1992; and Leeds Development Agency, 1994. He was a visiting lecturer at many colleges of art, from 1978–80 was fellow in fine art at University of Southampton and during 1981 was senior lecturer at Hull College of Higher Education. Smith had many solo exhibitions, including Spacex Gallery, Exeter, 1987, and Winchester Gallery, 1990. In group exhibitions he participated in Tolly Cobbold Eastern Arts Fourth National Exhibition, 1983–4, and John Moores, 1987. Smith’s publications included two award-winning picture books for children and a number of books on art, including The Artist’s Handbook, and he was consultant editor on the Dorling Kindersley Art School series. Arts Council, Eastern and Southern Arts and Contemporary Art Society hold examples.
