Education
Smith attended Twickenham Art school in the late 1960s, studying graphics and fine art
Smith attended Twickenham Art school in the late 1960s, studying graphics and fine art
She specialises in black-and-white photography. In 1970 she designed the sleeve for the Pink Fairies debut release Never Never Land. Her first major photographic commission was to cover a 1970s Led Zeppelin tour.
Smith went on to work at the NME as staff photographer until the early 1980s.
In her career, Smith has photographed some well-known rock musicians including: Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Iggy People’s, Sweet, The Clash, The Jam, The Slits, Siouxsie Sioux, Debbie Harry, U2, Morrissey, The Stone Roses, Primal Scream, Manic Street Preachers, Radiohead, Blur, Oasis, David Smith and The Strokes. In addition to her portrait work she has covered tours with musicians, including a photograph of The Clash"s Paul Simonon smashing his bass guitar on the stage in New York City during a 1979 tour.
Smith"s work has appeared on the covers and pages of the NME, on album sleeves, promotional material and has featured in books In 1980 her best selling book, The Clash, Before and After, was published.
In late 2009 multiple images by Smith were included in the "Who Shot Rock & Roll" exhibit of rock photography at the Brooklyn Museum.
In January 2010 Smith"s London Calling image was issued on a postage stamp by the Royal Mail. Smith currently lives and works in a disused railway station in West London, which she bought and converted into a studio while she was a student, and freelances in black and white reportage photography.
