Sam Smith (Alan Verner Smith, 1908–1983) was an artist, crafter and sculptor, known for his sculptures and toy-making for adults and children, carving wooden curios such as boats and seaside dioramas.[1][2]
Art UK writes "A lonely, introspective child, he "always wanted to be an artist", went to art school, but the 1930s Depression meant that he had to become a handyman and advertising illustrator".[4] He was unsuccessful as a painter.[3]
He started to carve and make wooden toys whilst working at an art gallery in London, and these were sold in the gallery shop.[3]
His wooden toys were shown at the Royal Festival Hall following the war.[4] "Smith’s objects became bigger, more elaborate and less toy-like, based on childhood memories and colourful characters, witty but a stringent comments on society."[4] The Victoria and Albert Museum says that "His work has been described as "sculpture toys for grown-ups" ... by the 1970s they had become quite large, with unusual themes".[6]
After the war, he, his wife Gladys, and stepson lived in a steep-hillside house, The Golf House, overlooking Kingswear, Devon, and across the River Dart to Dartmouth.[citation needed] For making toys, Smith had many wood-cutting tools in his studio in their house. They moved from Kingswear to Newton Abbot, Devon in 1979, where he continued to create work in his studio.
Smith continued to be successful in the United States of America with less of a reputation in the UK until Bristol Museum & Art Gallery held a large-scale exhibition in 1972.[3][4] In 1981 the Serpentine Gallery had a joint exhibition with H. C. Westermann, an American artist who was a friend of his.[4] During this exhibition Smith suffered a stroke. This was his last show. He died in 1983.[4]
He signed much[8][better source needed] of his 1930s work "Alan V". Later, he signed items "Sam Smith, Genuine England" as he became successful and sold work in London (for instance at the Primavera Gallery)[3] and New York.
Southampton City Art Gallery holds some of his work, including his painting Bathers in Southampton Water.[4][9] The Victoria and Albert Museum also has some of his work.[6]
^Janine Barker; Cheryl Buckley (2015), "The Primavera Story: 1946–67", British Design – Tradition and Modernity After 1948, Bloomsbury Academic, ISBN9780857857125
^ abcdefghi"Sam Smith collection, 1972-1996, bulk 1972-1979". Yale Center for British Art. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
^ abcdefghi"Sam Smith 1908–1983". Art UK. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
^"Mr Sam Smith", The Times, no. 61454, London, p. 14, 11 February 1983
^ ab"Tmith (sculpture, 1973)". Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
^"Sam Smith (1908 - 1983)". Contemporary Art Society. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
^Sam's 1930s toys and pictures still owned by me W Duncan Ogilvie in 2023, the godson of well-remembered Sam Smith
^"Bathers in Southampton Water". Art UK. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
External linksedit
Sam Smith "Genuine England" – a 1976 film by the Arts Council in which Smith explained his work
smith, maker, smith, alan, verner, smith, 1908, 1983, artist, crafter, sculptor, known, sculptures, making, adults, children, carving, wooden, curios, such, boats, seaside, dioramas, smithat, kingswear, 1976, 68bornalan, verner, smith, 1908, july, 1908shirley,. Sam Smith Alan Verner Smith 1908 1983 was an artist crafter and sculptor known for his sculptures and toy making for adults and children carving wooden curios such as boats and seaside dioramas 1 2 Sam SmithAt Kingswear in 1976 age 68BornAlan Verner Smith 1908 07 27 27 July 1908Shirley Southampton EnglandDied9 February 1983 1983 02 09 aged 74 Newton Abbot Devon EnglandEducationVictoria College JerseyBournemouth School of ArtWestminster School of ArtKnown fortoy maker painter and sculptorNotable workTmith 1973 The Crew Cats 1975 Rover s Regatta Day 1977 Patron s Muriel RoseHenry Rothschild Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 References 4 External links 5 See alsoEarly life and education editSmith was born in Southampton on 27 July 1908 3 His father was a steamship captain 3 Smith attended Victoria College Jersey 3 He studied art at Bournemouth School of Art and Westminster School of Art 3 Career editArt UK writes A lonely introspective child he always wanted to be an artist went to art school but the 1930s Depression meant that he had to become a handyman and advertising illustrator 4 He was unsuccessful as a painter 3 He started to carve and make wooden toys whilst working at an art gallery in London and these were sold in the gallery shop 3 During the Second World War Smith worked as a draughtsman for instance producing technical drawings for the development of the Bailey Bridge in Christchurch Dorset 3 4 5 His wooden toys were shown at the Royal Festival Hall following the war 4 Smith s objects became bigger more elaborate and less toy like based on childhood memories and colourful characters witty but a stringent comments on society 4 The Victoria and Albert Museum says that His work has been described as sculpture toys for grown ups by the 1970s they had become quite large with unusual themes 6 After the war he his wife Gladys and stepson lived in a steep hillside house The Golf House overlooking Kingswear Devon and across the River Dart to Dartmouth citation needed For making toys Smith had many wood cutting tools in his studio in their house They moved from Kingswear to Newton Abbot Devon in 1979 where he continued to create work in his studio A film about Smith Sam Smith Genuine England was made by the Arts Council of Great Britain in 1976 and broadcast by BBC Two on Arena 4 7 Smith continued to be successful in the United States of America with less of a reputation in the UK until Bristol Museum amp Art Gallery held a large scale exhibition in 1972 3 4 In 1981 the Serpentine Gallery had a joint exhibition with H C Westermann an American artist who was a friend of his 4 During this exhibition Smith suffered a stroke This was his last show He died in 1983 4 He signed much 8 better source needed of his 1930s work Alan V Later he signed items Sam Smith Genuine England as he became successful and sold work in London for instance at the Primavera Gallery 3 and New York Southampton City Art Gallery holds some of his work including his painting Bathers in Southampton Water 4 9 The Victoria and Albert Museum also has some of his work 6 References edit Halina Pasierbska 22 September 2005 Smith Alan Verner Sam Oxford Dictionary of National Biography doi 10 1093 ref odnb 93092 Janine Barker Cheryl Buckley 2015 The Primavera Story 1946 67 British Design Tradition and Modernity After 1948 Bloomsbury Academic ISBN 9780857857125 a b c d e f g h i Sam Smith collection 1972 1996 bulk 1972 1979 Yale Center for British Art Retrieved 6 December 2023 a b c d e f g h i Sam Smith 1908 1983 Art UK Retrieved 6 December 2023 Mr Sam Smith The Times no 61454 London p 14 11 February 1983 a b Tmith sculpture 1973 Victoria and Albert Museum Retrieved 6 December 2023 Sam Smith 1908 1983 Contemporary Art Society Retrieved 6 December 2023 Sam s 1930s toys and pictures still owned by me W Duncan Ogilvie in 2023 the godson of well remembered Sam Smith Bathers in Southampton Water Art UK Retrieved 6 December 2023 External links editSam Smith Genuine England a 1976 film by the Arts Council in which Smith explained his work Biography Sam Smith 1908 1983 personal websiteSee also editTim Hunkin nbsp This toy related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sam Smith toy maker amp oldid 1188660040, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
