Artist Kevin Smith has been painting for 60 years. His studio, located in the hills of Little Hampton, displays his enduring output with hundreds of paintings laying about.
“Some of these canvases are from the 1980s and I just paint over them,” he says.
The 76-year-old reflects on his life while listening to jazz play on vinyl. He grew up in Fitzroy during the mid-1960s, got kicked out of art school, loved motorcycles and Bob Dylan.
Smith has never owned a computer or a smartphone and prefers to let his brush do the talking.
“I’ve had a plethora of jobs but it’s always been about the art,” he says.
He describes his work as “bright, colourful and crazy”.
“Painting just makes me feel alive. When you take a painting off the wall you realise how important it is. You’ve lost something. It might be the colour, the shape.”
Smith’s inspirations include Fred Williams, Keith Haring and Picasso. Their influence can be seen throughout his work.
His latest show is at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Trentham from March 8, with an official opening on March 15 from 4pm to 6pm.
There will be 30 unseen works depicting landscapes, townscapes, social commentary and abstract art.
Artist Kevin Smith in his studio at Little Hampton.
