Photo: Ian Smith in his pottery studio

Born 1948 U.K. Arrived in Australia 1971
STUDIES
1964-66 Ordinary National Certificate, Electrical Engineering
1966-68 Higher National Certificate, Electrical Engineering
1968-69 Certificate of supplementary studies, Electro-technology 1 And Electro-technology II
1969-71 Ceramics, Kensington College of Further Education, London U.K.
1970 Recruited in U.K. by Australian Engineering company and took up position as Design Draughtsman in Sydney.
1976 Promoted to Electrical Project Manager
1979 Appointed to Board of Directors
1981 Resigned and took up position as Manager of a leading Menswear Store.
1987 Moved from Sydney to the Blue Mountains to establish the gallery in Falls Road, together with Anne Smith.
1991 Opened Falls Gallery.
1992 Attended Penrith TAFE ceramics course.
1993 Studied with local potter. Designed and built pottery workshop. Designed and built gas fired downdraught brick kiln. Commenced glaze testing.
1995 Invited demonstrator at Ceramic Study Group annual fair Macquarie University. (Carving and slip inlay techniques)
1996 Exhibition at Seasons Gallery, Sydney. “Recent Ceramics by Ian Smith”
1997 Exhibition at Seasons Gallery, Sydney “Artists and Their Gardens”
2000 Awarded the Port Hacking Potters group Ceramic Supply Company (Cesco) Award. 39th National Pottery Competition. Judged by Janet Mansfield.
2001 Feature Artist, New England Regional Gallery Shop.
2001 Feature Artist, Woollahra Public School Exhibition
2001 Salmon Galleries, MacMahons Point, Sydney.
2002 Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest;’Ceramic Connections’.
2002 New England Regional Gallery feature artist

ARTIST'S STATEMENT
I became interested in studio ceramics when living in London in the ‘sixties. Particularly in the work of Lucie Rie, Dan Arbeid, Bernard Leach and Michael Cardew. When visiting the Ceramics Department at Harrow School of Art I was introduced to Mick Casson and I found the activity and enthusiasm generated at Harrow very stimulating.

I came to Australia in 1971 to take up a position as an engineer, but also with an intention to assess the situation in Australia as to the economic viability of opening a ceramics gallery. As it happened I stayed in Engineering but furthered my knowledge of ceramics with trips to Asia and practical hands-on experience.

The early influences of Leach, Rie and Coper have stayed, added to these are strong design concepts, which show in the shapes of my pots. The precision in line and detail in carving may be due to my engineering background.


BIBLIOGRAPHY
‘OZ ARTS’ March 1966: Potters Directory 1966: Australian Country Style June 1966: ‘Artists and Galleries of Australia’ Max Germaine 1997: Pottery in Australia Vol 37 No 1 Autumn 1998: Australian Country Style 1998: Annandale Printers Gallery Guide July 1998: Australian Geographic Blue Mountains Book 1999: Australian Geographic Pocket Guide 2000.