Early in the 1880s Smith began a career performing in halls and theatres in Brighton as a hypnotist and psychic act. In 1892 he had seperated from his stage partner and bought the lease to St Ann's Well Garden in Hove, which he turned into a pleasure garden and site of his 'film factory'. In 1897, he began making films, producing at least 31 films that year. His work was very influential as he was a leader in developing continuity editing. By the late 1890s, Smith was processing commercial films mainly for the Warwick Trading Company. Smith joined the company and was asked in 1902 to develop the Lee and Turner process by Charles Urban. Around 1905, Smith moved to Southwick and began development of Kinemacolor. This was demonstrated in 1908 and was to become successful in subsequent years. Smith won the Silver Medal by the Royal Society of Arts. However, this success was ended when William Friese Greene brought a patent suit against Kinemacolor in 1914. In 1955 Smith was made a Fellow of the British Film Academy.