Gray Smith (1919-1990) was an epileptic who suffered 'grand mal' seizures from the time of his mid teens. The epilepsy formed and toned his life; he no longer perceived control and destiny over his life. The epilepsy controlled him. He became an observer of 'man'. He was a man outside, silently forbidden to become the socially constructed 'Aussie bloke'. Gray through his isolation of self and personal rejection of the illness developed a strong sense of irony in his artwork and poetry.

His artwork throughout the 1950's evolved the romanticized 'Aussie bloke'. This man too, was isolated and at odds with the landscape. The theme of isolation and dislocation from either landscape or society was a reoccurring theme and developed many forms throughout his life.

Joy Hester was young, given 9 months to live, a child at her helm, an often absent (working war artist), husband (Albert Tucker), her artwork, poetry and poverty. She was a woman needing to escape. Gray was young, working in a picture framing business at the back of his mothers' shop, with a wife and small child, frequent seizures and no time to really paint and live. Joy and Gray were drawn to each other, drawn to escape. They cared and nurtured each other for 13 years. They drew strength from each other and developed their own sense of self. They both developed their own unique styles of art practice. This period 1947-1960 culminated into two solo exhibitions at the Gallery of Contemporary Art, Tavistock Place and Melbourne.

The Reeds were wealthy, prominent art patrons who encouraged and financially supported many artists, throughout their lives. They, with many others, forged the development of the Modern Art Movement in Melbourne. Gray had a precarious relationship with the Reeds, who paid him a stipend until they died in the 1980's. Their relationship was clouded with the Reeds adopting Joy's first son, Joy and Gray wished to live at Heidi to be closer to the Reeds, this was not to be. However, the myth of their torrid relationship does not equate with their correspondence, which shows both affection, and care, Gray corresponded with the Reeds until they died.

After Joy died, Gray and Joan Davis married with 2 children each. They left Melbourne, Gray's home, and moved to Canberra, a then developing public service town, and the seat of the Federal Government of Australia.
They were a collaborative team, Joan assisting in research and Gray painting. This is perceived as the height of his career, 1961-1975. With his developed sense of 'man' formulating during the 1950's, the threads of history came into play to give this ironic man a context and a backdrop.

The first research project was the outback New South Wales. The family went to the outback where Joan's family came from. Grays' paintings developed a colour that had been absent which enriched the landscape and developed its vastness. "Outback Paintings" Leverson Street Gallery, Melbourne and Gallery A, Canberra. Gray and Joan worked as a team on many more projects. The Canberra Paintings, some of which were reproduced in a book by Samuel Shumack, 'Tales and Legends of Canberra Pioneers. Other series included The 'Eurimburra Legends' and 'Captain Cook' series and The 'Daisy Bates' series, as shown on the ABC. The Daisy Bates series was researched and developed by Professor Tulip. Gray painted his interpretations of Tulips research.

Through ill health, Gray retired from the hectic life of promoting his art work, yet he continued to paint for his own pleasure. His last exhibition was in 1975 at Solander Gallery in Canberra and his last painting in 1990 the year he died.
By Fern Smith 2004-7
Source
State Library of Victoria - Australian manuscripts
Dear Sun - J. Bourke
Joy Hester - J. Bourke
Tapes collected 1993-5
Smith Estate

Timeline
1919 Born Elsternwick Victoria
1935 Apprenticed to an Optician - learnt fine metalwork which assisted in jewellery he made.
1939 Timber Cutter
1942/3- 45 Studied with Max Meldrum
1945- 1950 Exhibited in group shows with Contemporary Art Society in Melbourne (CAS)
1946- First daughter born
1948- 1960 Lived with Joy Hester (married 1959) - a strong professional relationship as both artists consolidated their unique style.
1951 1st son born
1955 Published works in Ern Malley's Journal
1954 Second daughter born
1956 First solo exhibition at Gallery Modern Art Melbourne
1957 Painting presented to the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
1958 Solo exhibition Gallery of Contemporary Art - opened by Vance Palmer
1961 Settled in Canberra
1962 Group exhibition with artwork and jewellery by Gray at Studio Nundah Canberra
1964 Art teacher for the severely physically disabled children (up to age of 23) at Canberra Hospital,
Back-o-Bourke series Gallery A and third daughter born.
1965 Outback solo exhibition at Leveson Street Gallery Nth Melbourne
1966 Joint exhibition with John Percival Theatre Gallery Canberra
Won the Helena Rubinstein Portrait Prize Portrait of Lady (Molly) Huxley at David Jones Gallery ACT
The Canberry Paintings The First Hundred Years present by Arts Council of Canberra
1967 Preview exhibition at the residence of Henri Souillac Cultural Counsellor of France
Artworks published in Tales and Legends of Canberra Pioneers dairy of Samuel Shumack (artworks sourced from The Canberry
Paintings) published by Canberra University Press
1968 Joint exhibition with Arthur Wicks at International Cite Des Arts and Qantas Paris and residency at Cite Des Arts
Eurimburra Legend Sculpture Gallery
1969 The ANU Arts Society Acquisition exhibition of Gray Smith's paintings Union Building ANU opened by Dr. B. E Kent
Directed the Mural on YWCA building (now demolished) by the art students the now Canberra School of Art
1969 - 71 Teacher at the now Canberra School of Art
1970 Captain Cook Series
1971 Daisy Bates Series for the ABC broadcasting commission The Daisy Bates series was researched and developed by Professor Tulip
1971/72 Art Critic for the Canberra Times
1975 Solo exhibition at Solander Galleries
1976 - 1990 Due to ill health Gray continued to paint however never exhibited.
Source
State Library of Victoria - Australian Manuscripts
Tapes collected 1993-5
Smith Estate