Mark Liam Smith (b. 1973, Middlesbrough, England) is a Toronto-based fine artist, bestselling author and educator. Working across oil painting, drawing and photography, he explores art-historical traditions, myth, narrative and the ways we learn to see. Colourblind from birth, Mark approaches colour as a creative opportunity, often using unexpected, non-local colour in his work.

Mark is also known internationally for making drawing clear and approachable. His online lessons have reached millions of aspiring artists, and his social media channels include more than 6 million subscribers. He is the author of the bestselling The New Artist’s Guide to Drawing and The New Artist’s Guide to Drawing Animals, arriving October 6, 2026.

Mark’s artwork has been exhibited in Montreal, Toronto, London and New York, as well as at SCOPE Basel, Art Seattle, Art Toronto, Papier and Toronto Edition. His work has appeared in the The Jealous Curator, the Toronto Star, the CBC, Hi-Fructose, Booooooom, Create! Magazine, and Bizarre Beyond Belief Magazine, among others. Mark exhibits with Treat Gallery in NYC.

He is a recipient of the Federation of Canadian Artists’ Emerging Artist Award and two Ontario Arts Council grants.