Tony Smith grew up in Birmingham surrounded by an artistic influence; Smith’s father painted for a living in their home, and he was raised with the encouragement to draw whatever he saw. It was no surprise to the family that Smith attended art school and graduated with distinction. Unfortunately, Smith’s parents, who knew first-hand how difficult the art world can be, convinced him to find a more mainstream career. Smith took their advice and landed a position at Birmingham’s largest advertising agency for five years, followed by one year in the service as an infantryman. However, the desire to create fine art was too strong, and Smith eventually decided to follow his dream and become a full-time painter.

Smith decided to combine his passion for painting with his passion for motor car racing, which he discovered with the mid 1940s. Though he paints a range of subjects, from portraits to planes, Smith’s favorite subject to paint is race cars. The struggle to capture the speed, and even the violence, of the sport is a challenge that Smith is continually working on.