Paul Smith Loves Art, but Don’t Call Him a Collector

LONDON — Paul Smith is a man of many interests: Cycling, architecture, fabric innovation and music. He’s also an art lover and has done much to support young artists over the years, particularly through a dedicated scholarship for low-income art students. The now-acclaimed portrait artist James Lloyd was one of the first to have his tuition fees paid for by the Paul Smith scholarship. Post-graduation, he painted a portrait of Smith following a commission from the National Portrait Gallery. “It was a lovely coming together,” the designer said. He has also previously funded the artist duo Joe Boon and Anna Baumgart to complete their final project at the Slade School of Art, which involved dressing the columns of the University College London building in bias-cut garments. Art has always been part of Smith’s life. Given his natural curiosity across the creative fields, he has a tendency to turn rooms into cabinets of curiosities of sorts, filled with books, memorabilia, toys — and lots of art. Art for Smith can range from a photograph by David Bailey, an embroidered letter sent from a fan or a painted portrait. He discovered a passion for art as a teen, hanging out with Nottingham University students at The Bell Inn and

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