Herb Smith
Fine Art Photography


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Artist's Biography

Herb Smith grew up in Michigan, where he developed a love of nature at a very early age. His interest in photography also started early, and by the age of twelve he had a home darkroom. He earned money to buy his first single-lens reflex, an Exacta V, when he was 16.

He received a B.A. in a pre-med curriculum from Albion College in Michigan. While at Albion, he decided to pursue medical illustration as a career to combine his interests in science, art and photography. After graduation, he spent a year at the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland, and traveled extensively in Europe. He then attended Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and earned an M.A. in Art as Applied to Medicine.

Herb worked as a medical illustrator at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland before being recruited by renowned cardiovascular surgeon Michael E. DeBakey to Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He directed Baylor's department of Medical Illustration and Audiovisual Education for 37 years. During the last seven years, he also served as Webmaster and Director of Web Development.

Because of his contributions to the field of biomedical communications, Herb was awarded the Association of Medical Illustrators' Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Biological Photographic Association's Louis Schmidt Award, becoming the first person to receive the highest honors of both associations.

After moving to Wimberley, Texas in 2002, Herb was able to actively pursue his lifelong interests in photography and nature. He became a certified Texas Master Naturalist in 2003, and served as president of the Hill Country Photography Club in 2005 and 2006. He was elected to the Board of the Texas Photographic Society in 2011, and served as gallery curator for the Wimberley Valley Art League from 2009 to 2019. He was a member of the Hill Country Alliance Advisory Board, and has served as a member of the Steering Committee of Citizens Alliance for Responsible Development since 2008, and as webmaster since 2012. He served as juror for photography competitions in New Braunfels, Georgetown, Wimberley, and Sun City, Texas.

He received recognition for his photographs in 138 juried competitions, with 17 first places and 31 other awards since 2005. Over 100 of his prints have been acquired by private and public collections.

Brief Resumé

Education:
B.A., Albion College, Albion, Michigan
Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Scotland
M.A., Johns Hopkins University (Art as Applied to Medicine)

Positions:
Webmaster and Director of Web Development
Baylor College of Medicine, 1994-2000

Director, Medical Illustration and Audiovisual Education
Baylor College of Medicine, 1964-2000

Medical Illustrator, Medical Arts Section
National Institutes of Health, 1961-1963

Recent Juried and Invited Exhibitions:
  • Wimberley Valley Art League Gallery, 2020
         2 prints accepted in Jan-Feb exhibition
         Honorable Mention in Jan-Feb exhibition
  • Wimberley Valley Art League Gallery, 2019
         9 prints accepted in 7 exhibitions
  • Water, 2019
         14 prints shown in invited exhibition
         Art on 12 Gallery, Wimberley
  • Wimberley Valley Art League Gallery, 2018
         2 prints accepted in Jan-Feb exhibition
         3rd place in Feb-Mar exhibition
  • Against the Grain 2016-17
          10 prints shown in invited exhibition
          Georgetown Art Center, Georgetown, TX
  • Wimberley Valley Art League Gallery, 2017
         11 prints accepted in 6 exhibitions
         2nd Place in Feb-Apr exhibition
         Honorable Mention in Jan-Feb exhibition
  • Against the Grain 2016-17
          10 prints shown in invited exhibition
          Georgetown Art Center, Georgetown, TX
  • Pinhole
          A Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX, 2016
  • Light
          A Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX, 2016
  • Wimberley Valley Art League Gallery, 2016
         8 prints accepted in 6 exhibitions
         Second Place in May-Jul exhibition
         Honorable Mention in Feb-April exhibition
         Honorable Mention in Nov-Dec exhibition
  • Fotofest 2016 - Art League of Baytown, Elemental Observations - 3 prints accepted
  • Wimberley Valley Art League Gallery, 2015
         Honorable Mention in Jul-Sep exhibition
         10 prints accepted in 5 exhibitions
  • Wimberley Valley Art League Gallery, 2014
         Best in Show in May-July regional exhibition
         Honorable Mention in Jan-Feb exhibition
         10 prints accepted in 6 juried exhibitions
  • High and Dry, Texas Tech, Lubbock, TX, 2014
  • Naturescapes, San Marcos, Texas, 2014
         Award of Excellence
  • 23rd Annual International Show
          Texas Photographic Society, 2014
  • Hipstamatic
          A Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX, 2014
  • More Trees
          A Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX, 2014
  • Shadows
          A Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX, 2013
  • Wimberley Valley Art League Gallery, 2013
         Eleven prints accepted in 6 juried exhibitions
         1st place in Jun-Jul exhibition
         Honorable Mention in Nov-Dec exhibition
  • Naturescapes, San Marcos, Texas, 2013
  • Shadows and Light
         Black Box Gallery, Portland, OR, 2013
  • Unusual Beauty
         Albuquerque Photographers Gallery, 2012
         Honorable Mention, 2 images accepted
  • Naturescapes, San Marcos, Texas, 2012
         Best in Show
  • Wimberley Valley Art League Gallery, 2012
         Eleven prints accepted in 6 juried exhibitions
         Honorable Mention in Nov-Dec exhibition
         Honorable Mention in Aug-Sep exhibition
         Honorable Mention in Apr-Jun exhibition
  • Winter
          A Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX, 2012
  • 25th Annual Members Only Show
          Texas Photographic Society, 2012
  • Four Corners
          Darkroom Gallery, Vermont, 2011
  • Again:Reflections and Photography
          Vermont PhotoPlace Online Gallery, 2011
  • Wimberley Valley Art League Gallery, 2011
         Seven prints accepted in 4 juried exhibitions
         1st place in Sept-Nov exhibition
  • The Nature of Trees
          Vermont PhotoPlace Online Gallery, 2011
  • Fall Art Hop, Georgetown, Texas, 2011
  • Naturescapes, San Marcos, Texas, 2011
          Best in Show
  • Round and Round, San Marcos, Texas, 2011
  • Hill Country Alliance 2011 calendar contest
          One full-page, one inset
  • The Language of Light
          The Vermont PhotoPlace, 2011
  • Simplicity
          A Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX, 2011
  • Romance
          A Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX, 2011
  • Flowers, Trees, Birds and Bees: Nature Explored
          Vermont PhotoPlace Online Gallery, 2010
  • Spherical
          A Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX, 2010
  • Wimberley Valley Art League Special Exhibit
    Austin-Bergstrom Internat. Airport, Oct '10-Jan '11
  • Wimberley Valley Art League Gallery, 2010
          Eleven prints accepted in 5 juried exhibitions
          1st Place in Oct-Nov exhibition
  • Naturescapes, San Marcos, Texas, 2010
          Award of Excellence, Award of Merit
  • Domicile
          A Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX, 2010
  • Get Published! Lensbaby competition, 2009
          Honorable Mention Gallery
  • High and Dry, Texas Tech, Lubbock, TX, 2009
  • Artoberfest, New Braunfels Art League, TX, 2009
          1st place
  • Fall Art Hop, Georgetown, Texas, 2009
          1st place
  • IR Dreaming
          Watson Studio Gallery, Johnson City, TX, 2009
          Honorable Mention
  • Naturescapes, San Marcos, Texas, 2009
          Best in Show, Award of Merit
  • Abstractions, San Marcos, Texas, 2009
  • Fantastic Plastic
          Watson Studio Gallery, Johnson City, TX, 2009
  • Water, The Vermont PhotoPlace Gallery , 2009
  • Huisache Grill, New Braunfels, 2009
          Three prints accepted in juried exhibition
  • Wimberley Valley Art League Gallery, 2009
          Eleven prints accepted in 5 juried exhibitions
          Honorable Mention in Feb-April exhibition
          3rd place in Dec-Jan '10 exhibition
          Honorable Mention in Dec-Jan '10 exhibition
  • Ménage à Trois II
          Watson Studio Gallery, Johnson City, TX, 2009
  • Hill Country Alliance 2009 calendar contest
          Grand Prize
  • Fall Art Hop, Georgetown, Texas, 2008
          1st place
  • Wimberley Valley Art League Gallery, 2008
          Fifteen prints accepted in 5 juried exhibitions
          1st Place in Feb-Mar exhibition
          2nd Place in Oct-Nov exhibition
          1st Place in Dec-Jan '09 exhibition
  • Naturescapes, San Marcos, Texas, 2008
  • World in Motion, San Marcos, Texas, 2008
  • Abstract Expressions
          Watson Studio Gallery, Johnson City, TX, 2008
          Honorable mention
  • Unrefined Light: Image-Making with Plastic Cameras and their Friends
          Foundry Arts Centre, St. Charles, Missouri, 2008
  • Ménage à Trois
          Watson Studio Gallery, Johnson City, TX, 2008
  • Skies & Travel Over Central Texas
    Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Oct '07-Jan '08
  • Hill Country Alliance 2008 calendar contest
          Grand Prize
  • Wimberley Valley Art League Gallery, 2007
          Nine prints accepted in 4 juried exhibitions
          Best in Show for Grand Opening exhibition
          Honorable mention in Aug-Sept exhibition
          Honorable mention in Dec-Jan '08 exhibition
  • Center for Fine Art Photography's members exhibition, Fort Collins, CO, 2007
  • Bayfest 2007, Corpus Christi, Texas
          3rd place in B&W
  • Naturescapes, San Marcos, Texas, 2007
          Award of Excellence
          2nd place in Scenic
          honorable mention in Hays Co.
  • Architextures, San Marcos, Texas, 2007
  • Divishow Studio and Gallery,
    Cuautitlan Izcalli, Mexico
          2007 Spring TOP 30 Juried Competition
  • Foundry Arts Centre, St. Charles, Missouri
          Photography: 2nd Annual Exhibition
  • CameraArts magazine, Jan-Feb, 2007 issue
  • Illuminance 2007, Buddy Holly Center, Lubbock, Texas
  • Center for Fine Art Photography's second Denver International Airport Exhibition, 2007
  • Bayfest 2006, Corpus Christi, Texas
          1st place in B&W
  • Naturescapes, San Marcos, Texas, 2006
          honorable mention in Scenic
  • Artists for Austin 2006 auction for SafePlace
  • People, Places, Things, Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, CO, 2006
          honorable mention in Places
  • Homegrown, Texas State University, 2006
  • Texas Not Tuscany, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, 2006
          print purchased for permanent collection
  • High and Dry, Lubbock, Texas, 2005
  • Bayfest 2005, Corpus Christi, Texas
          honorable mention in B&W
  • Naturescapes, San Marcos, Texas, 2005
          1st place in Scenic


All photos copyrighted Herb Smith 2005-20, All rights reserved.