Biographical Information
Frederic Marlett Bell-Smith ~ [1846-1923] Canadian OSA, SCA, RCA
Frederic Marlett Bell-Smith was born in London in 1846, the son of John Bell-Smith. He attended South Kensignton Art Schools in London and The Academie Colarossi in Paris; he studied under both his father and Alexander Harrison. He came to Montreal in 1866 at the age of 20 and worked as a photographer. He was a founding member of the Society of Canadian Artists, Montreal 1867. He lived and worked in Montreal, Hamilton and Toronto making illustrations for newpaper and other periodicals. While in Hamilton Bell-Smith worked with James Inglis and L. Eckerson.
In 1881 he began teaching and was made Director of Fine Arts at Alma College where he was appointed Director of Fine Arts of Public Schools of London Ontario in 1882. Bell-Smith was also the principal of the Western Branch of Toronto Art School from 1888-1890.
Bell-Smith was featured often in the Canadian Illustrated News where he recorded local Canadian news events. In 1872 the artist accompanied Lord Dufferin to western Ontario. He travelled extensively to the Rocky Mountains under CPR srpnsorship between 1887 and 1918 and joined the first CPR passes made available by William Van Horne.
An accomplished artist Bell-Smith was made ARCA in 1880 and RCA in 1886. Bell-Smith is best known for his watercolour paintings of misty Canadian mountain peaks and glaciers as well as street scenes and city-scapes of London.

See Frederic Marlett Bell-Smith [1846-1923], by R.Boulet, A.G.G.V., 1976; N.G.C. Vol.1, A-F, ed.C.Hill, pg.76; A.G.O., by the A.G.O., pg.17 for other examples; biographies in Dict. of Canadian Artists, by C.MacDonald, Vol.1, pg.36; E.P.E.C., by R.Harper, pg.26 and Collector's Dictionary of Canadian Artists at Auction, by A.Westbridge, Vol.1, pg.27, Westbridge Pub., 1999; exhibition list in R.C.A.A., pp.28-32 and M.M.F.A., by E.McMann, pp.26-28

Historical Results for this Artist