Stephen Smith has been producing art from childhood and has experience in virtually all visual art outlets. His career began as an illustrator, writer, and cartoonist for several independent newspapers in Alabama before attending art school at UAB, Ringling, and eventually receiving a BFA in painting from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Stephen was awarded a scholarship to The University of the Arts based on one slide and his insistence he be granted one. At UArts, Stephen became the editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, creating much uproar that resulted in an entire issue being confiscated. Eventually the university sent him to New York to earn credits in independent study.

After graduation, Stephen moved to New Orleans and published an art journal, isms, while showing in galleries around town and selling work at Jackson Square. During this time he started a publishing company called The Stephen Smith Press, that published comic books and literary works along with his art journal. The Stephen Smith Press provided illustration, art direction, and cartoons for numerous commercial projects and publications.

Returning to Alabama, Stephen continued to publish his art journal, isms, and also published two broadsheet newspapers, The Birmingham Free Press and the Jones Valley Sentinel, and expanded into publishing classic works on aesthetics and an art magazine focused on hyperrealism. Other projects involved murals, portrait painting, illustration for numerous magazines and books including being published by Penguin Books and HarperCollins, designing a cemetery, and acting as internet art director for the oldest photography magazine in the country. During this time he received his Masters in Art History from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

In late 2015, Stephen opened Stephen Smith Fine Art.