Meet the maker: artist David Smith

For over 25 years, I’ve been selling my artwork. It all began when I was at university and I started selling my art to pay for a few extras whilst I was studying, it helped with the beer fund and some new clothes. This was mainly creating things like portraits and caricatures. Following my degree, I was looking for a way to pay off my overdraft, so I started freelancing. I painted things like children’s play centres doing wall murals and got most of my work through word of mouth. My tallest wall mural was 6 metres high and 25 metres long. I also did some work on bowling alleys and sports bars as well as in a few hospitals. The downside to freelancing is it’s feast to famine and so when the work is coming in thick and fast it’s fantastic but then when you have your quieter times it can be a real struggle. I started working in the computer games industry and from there I had the opportunity to work with Disney and Fox on various titles and I learnt so much during this and really developed my skill.  

After leaving there I moved around various different roles, but I always wanted to get back into the creative side of things. With a young family, it was easier to stay at home with my kids and so I started working for myself again. To begin with, I did quite a lot of illustration on children’s books, but I also started making a name for myself doing pet portraits. This could be a much-loved current pet or an animal that is no longer with someone and my work was always given pride of place in a home. This gives me so much satisfaction. By going freelance I now have so much variety in my work. One day I could be designing a tattoo for a local parlour and the next working on logos, brochures or illustrations for another client. I’ve had to learn quickly to become multi-skilled and able to adapt to so many artistic styles.

It’s hard to explain, but imagine not being able to do something that feels so natural and important to you. When I’ve worked in other industries it’s always felt like something was missing. For me art is so fundamental that it moves me and to not be able to do it has a real impact on how I am as a person.

How do you promote your business?

In the past I’ve used Facebook a lot but with the algorithm changes this has had an impact over the years so now it’s more of a placeholder. The majority of my work still comes from Twitter and I just started getting into LinkedIn. Until you sit with someone who uses it day in day out you don’t realise the opportunities it can bring. Having sat with someone else who regularly uses it to drive business I realised I was missing a trick. However, it’s definitely Twitter, along with my website that drives the most work.

We recently sent you some labels and asked you to try our software, what did you create?

I now use the labels to give a flavour of my artwork and drive people to the website. When designing the labels, I wanted something punchy that would make them visit my site and see many more examples of the work I do. I send so many envelopes out to prospective clients and I am sure these new labels will catch their eye on the envelope. Anything which goes out will now have them on and when I go to shows I am going to stick them on kids to catch their eyes too. Hopefully people will notice these artistic labels and want to find out more.