Raymond Smith

 

As a lifelong surfer and open water enthusiast, Raymond has developed an instinctive affinity with the ocean, wind and sky. The artworks he now creates are formed by an analogue nostalgia wrapped in a salty visual aesthetic.

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Arriving in Noosa Heads twelve years ago, the artist was initially struck by the colour and quality of the ocean and sky. Dramatic storms tracking across the horizon, complex skyscapes, crystal clear waters alongside golden sand, pristine bays with perfect waves, and lush rainforests accompanying the ocean, are what have been uniquely combined to define this place called Noosa. These are the underlying influences for his current collection: Wavescapes Reimagined

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Previously an industrial designer in California for thirty years, Raymond worked in consumer products, branding, entertainment, automotive, and recreation industries.

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During his youth in South Africa he surfed Durbans' beaches through the 60's and 70's, making trips to Jeffries Bay and Cape St. Francis when it was just sand dunes and bush. This is where he first began depicting his adventures in sketches and drawings. Raymond then attended art school in Durban, and later received a scholarship to attend Art Center College in California where he achieved his BSc Degree in Industrial Design. This formed the foundation and provided the professional skills for a career as an industrial designer and artist.