Victoria Smith (1999) is a British contemporary artist specialising in photography, whose practice spans across analogue and digital technologies, from high quality commercial work to conceptual darkroom experimentations. Through a diverse range of exhibitions, residencies, and commissions, her work offers a nuanced perspective on both personal and collective narratives.
Smith's work is often collaborative, and her residencies reflect her commitment to community engagement and cultural exchange. In 2023, Victoria completed a 12-week residency at Fireground in Rochdale, focusing on the role of photography in the fire service, with the outcome of an artist film and exhibition. She was also a key participant in the EUNIC Photographic Residency in Bangkok (2019), working alongside Thai photographers to create work that explored the theme of Walls & Beyond which progressed to an exhibition in France.
Smith has taken on various curatorial roles, currently focusing on programming and curating community exhibitions at HOi on Princes Avenue throughout 2025. Exhibition titles include ‘From Ukraine to UK’ and ‘Hull City on Film’, both showcasing photography whilst creating connections within local communities. Smith is very interested in the work of others, having curated shows during her studies in Manchester.
In 2024, Smith received a business grant from MC4C to start her own photography business. Working from a photography studio in the historic Maistor House, she offers a wide range of services, tailoring her approach to meet the unique needs of each client. Smith’s portfolio is often music orientated, including high-profile subjects, such as Paul Weller, Peter Hook, and The Libertines
as well as working with Hull’s current music scene. She was appointed the Visual Director for The Froot in 2024, independently comitting to working with the band, creating their music videos, album art, and promotional photography. In addition, Smith works amongst local businesses and organizations in Hull and the surrounding areas to provide high quality commercial and advertising work.
Beyond her artistic practice, Smith has gained valuable experience in the arts, media and heritage industries through various roles, including running events for Museum Development, teaching music and media at Junior Jam, creating stunning videography for XWZ Media and marketing and project management for Bespoken.co. She has also volunteered her skills at several institutions, including as an exhibition assistant at Impressions Gallery and as Digital Development Officer for The Saltaire Collection Museum.
Smith earned a First-Class Honours degree in Photography from Manchester School of Art (2017–2020), where her academic achievements laid the foundation for her growing career. Victoria was granted the Castlefield Associates Award at the MSoA degree show. Her education, combined with hands-on experience, has equipped her with the technical expertise and conceptual depth necessary to tackle complex visual projects.
Currently, Smith holds the position of Interchange Artist at Humber Street Gallery (2024–2025), where she continues to explore and challenge the boundaries of contemporary photography with an outcome of a group exhibition later this year.
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