Ian Mckenzie Smith (1935 – )

Biography: Ian McKenzie Smith CBE, PPRSA, PPRSW, HRA, RGI, LLD trained at Gray’s School of Art and Design in Aberdeen and at Hospitalfield in Arbroath. A travelling scholarship in1959 took him to Paris where he met the Japanese artist, Kenzo Okada, and encountered Zen philosophy which has been an influence in his work ever since. He was Director of the Art Gallery in Aberdeen (1968-1989) and then became Aberdeen’s City Arts and Recreation Officer (1989-1996).
Smith was President of the Royal Society of Watercolours (1988-1998) and is a recent past President of the Royal Scottish Academy.