George Smart (tailor)

George Smart (1774-1846) was an English tailor and folk artist notable for his cloth collage portraits and felt covered dummyboards.

His artworks were mentioned in several guidebooks of the time that encouraged tourists to visit his shop.

[2] The Tunbridge Wells Museum owns ten examples of his work and Compton Verney Art Gallery[3] in Warwickshire has two pictures.

[4] In the summer of 2014, twenty one artworks by George Smart were included in Tate Britain's "British Folk Art" exhibition,[5] the first time his work had been gathered together in a major gallery and in such quantity.

A website devoted to the life and work of George Smart, The Tailor of Frant is now available here: georgesmartfrant.wordpress.com[10]

"Old Bright, The Postman" by George Smart, c.1830s. ©Tunbridge Wells Museum/Jonathan Christie 2015
"The Goosewoman" by George Smart, c.1830s. ©Tunbridge Wells Museum/Jonathan Christie 2015
Label on the reverse of the Goosewoman picture by George Smart, c.1830s. ©Tunbridge Wells Museum/Jonathan Christie 2015