Sir Matthew Smith was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1871. Having started working life at Bradford wool mill, he went on to study painting at Slade School of Art (1905-7).
Following a trip to Brittany, Smith moved to Paris where he was taught by Matisse and inspired by the Fauves. This is evident both through his palette and his application of paint. In 1911 and 1922 Smith exhibited at the Société des Artistes Indépendants. When war broke out in 1914, Smith returned to England to join the Army and was subsequently wounded in battle.
In 1920 Smith joined The London Group, his work quickly finding favour with both Roger Fry and the Tate Gallery who purchased his work. In 1953 the Tate held a large retrospective of Smith’s work and the following year he was knighted.