Welcome.
Lou Smith is based at APT Studios in Deptford, and has worked there since 1995. She studied at Ravensbourne College of Art and Design and was awarded a 1st class Honours Degree in Fine/Art Painting. She has lived and worked in London since 1978.
Lou Smith is an abstract painter whose paintings are large scale surfaces, saturated with colour and infused with light. Layers of colour gently resonate within these paintings as surfaces collide and mingle. Lou works on unstretched canvas, tacking it directly to the studio floor. The canvas is unprimed, as she stains rich colour hues into the canvas fibres Her paintings resonate with emotion through the use of varied surfaces, colour and materials.
Selected exhibitions include; Switch, Den Haag, Netherlands, John Moores Liverpool Exhibition, Royal Academy, London, Creekside Open, APT Gallery, London, 369 Gallery, Edinburgh, Air Gallery, London, Camden Arts Centre, London, Colour Paintings, Centre 181, Hammersmith, London, Essex Festival of Contemporary Arts, Colchester Arts Centre, Essex and Woodlands Art Gallery, Greenwich, London.
Her paintings have been filmed for an independent production for Channel 4, and for Lewisham College. Lou opens her studio to the public every year as part of APT Open Studios.
Professional Background
Since 2005 Lou Smith has taught photography to thousands of people from around the world. With life partner, Ron Smith they founded London Photo Tours and Workshops. Bringing photography outdoors into a world of practical, hands on learning. In doing so, they transformed the way photography was taught in London. Lou is an experienced educator and expert with all types of cameras.
Lou Smith founded Lou Smith Fine Art Photography, where her photography is showcased.
Art and Design is an active part of the family tree as Lou Smith is the great, great grand-daughter of renowned Scottish architect David Bryce.
From 1997-2014 Lou managed the Arts Lift Project. This was an important part of Lou’s work in the community as the Project demonstrated the benefits of art on mental health. This was funded by Lewisham PCT and Community Education Lewisham, (the Adult Education Service for Lewisham
The project worked in partnership with Lewisham GPs, who referred patients experiencing clinical depression, anxiety, stress, social isolation. Lou Smith used her art expertise to create a personal art plan for referred individuals to join free art courses from the Community Education Lewisham program. Patients were supported throughout their time in the project. The project was the first of its kind and was developed by Lou. Important data was collated which showed the therapeutic benefits of arts subjects in managing clinical depression.
Since 1990 Lou has taught Visual Arts subjects in Adult Education and Colleges.
Lou has also delivered workshops for the Whitechapel Art Gallery, APT Trust and schools throughout London.
Lou Smith has maintained a professional art practice since leaving art college in 1981.
Interests
Lou is a keen gardener and has a small greenhouse in which she grows a variety of tomatoes of different colours and sizes. Lou also grows aubergines and bell peppers in her greenhouse. Lou Smith is a container gardener and grows many varieties of lettuce, courgettes, squash, beans and carrots. Lou loves to cook using her organically grown vegetables. Gardening gives a break from the intensities of creative practice and teaching. It’s a wonderful experience watching her vegetables come to form and grow.
Lou Smith practices qigong daily. She started this during lockdown and found it to be of great benefit to her physical and general health well being. Qigong keeps Lou supple and energetic.
Lou also enjoys using her antique Singer treadle sewing machine. She has made a few items of clothing. Lou doesn’t have much time for clothesmaking but enjoys it when she can.