Born in London, England in 1846, Frederic Marlett Bell-Smith immigrated to Canada in 1866 and went on to become one of the most significant figures in Canadian historical art. He studied at the South Kensington School of Art in London, where he developed a strong academic foundation that would influence his later work. Bell-Smith’s early training in England, combined with his exposure to Canada’s dramatic landscapes and coastal settings, established him as a leading interpreter of both European and Canadian traditions.

Bell-Smith was a founding member of the Ontario Society of Artists and the Royal Canadian Academy, organizations that helped shape the direction of fine art in Canada during the late 19th century. He became head of the art department at Alma College in St. Thomas, Ontario, and later served as a professor at the Central Ontario School of Art and Design in Toronto. Through these roles he taught and mentored future generations of artists, including John William Beatty, who would in turn go on to teach Doris McCarthy, creating an enduring legacy in Canadian art education.

Best known for his luminous landscapes and seascapes, Bell-Smith frequently painted the Rocky Mountains, the Bay of Fundy, and the Saguenay region of Quebec, capturing the grandeur of Canada’s natural environment. His works balance refined academic technique with plein-air freshness, qualities that appealed to both collectors and institutions. Today, paintings by Frederic Marlett Bell-Smith are held in major Canadian museums and private collections, where they continue to be celebrated as important contributions to the development of Canadian historical art.