She has been shortlisted in the famous portrait prize two years in a row, this year with a striking painting of choreographer and dancer Meryl Tankard.

She took up drawing and painting over 15 years ago and honed her craft while still acting. It  was inspiring to hear her talk openly about the catalyst for taking that direction – in the middle of a struggle with post-natal depression.

She has had three shows including most recently an exhibition of beautiful mixed media works of the underwater world of Gary the crab which she’s planning to make into a children’s book ‘Blue bottle bubbles’. She’s also delving into abstraction and her work will be included in at least two shows later this year.

We talk about her journey to becoming a painter and her inspirational attitude towards her future as an artist – a wonderful mix of curiosity and determination.

She’s one of the most dynamic, down to earth and funny women you’ll ever meet and we had a lot of fun recording this interview.

To hear the interview press play under the feature photo above.

A short video of Smart in her studio on the Talking with Painters YouTube channel can be seen here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4oaKBm9weQ&t=6s

‘Lunch in the Outback’, acrylic on canvas, 108.5 x 108.5cm, finalist Archibald Prize 2018

‘The mayor of Bondi’, oil and acrylic on canvas, 77 x 77cm,finalist Archibald prize 2017

‘pink jelly so wanted to dance with Gary but his claws…’, 76cm x 96cm, mixed media, from the Blue Bottle Bubble series.

‘the serenity of garys pink garden sometimes brought on an almighty howl…he felt a million after that’ 76 x 96cm, mixed media.

Abstract work in progress

‘I go walkin around midnight’ (based on Smart’s midnight walks with her father in country South Australia)