Meet the Illustrator
About Natasha Pelley-Smith
Natasha Pelley-Smith, born in Toronto, is a seasoned professional artist who graduated from the prestigious Écohlcité fine arts academy in France, in 2017—now integrated into Émile Chol of Lyon. Equipped with a diverse skill set that spans from crafting murals of all sizes to illustrating books and creating canvas paintings in oils, acrylics, and mixed media, Natasha’s professional journey is a continual creative adventure.
Her artistic focal point revolves around expressive portraiture, wherein she delves into the realms of self-identity exploration and cultural influences. Natasha is known to embody her Native American, Jamaican, and Newfoundland roots, as well as other cultural threads from her life. Her work serves as an invitation for others to embrace their multifaceted layers, both culturally and emotionally, promoting messages of unity and self-love.
Having returned to her Canadian roots, Natasha continues to make significant contributions in mural painting, canvas art, and illustration. Throughout her career, she has collaborated artistically with renowned commercial companies such as CiteCreation in France and Canadian/US companies like Lycopodium Minerals Canada Ltd., Randstad Canada, EZRA, Longslice Brewery, Black Calder Brewery Co., York Regional Bell Box, the City of Richmond Hill in Ontario, as well as the bubble tea restaurant, Nuttea Toronto. Many of these projects displayed ties with diversity, and cultural and environmental aspects.
Natasha’s private clientele is also noteworthy, where her artwork has garnered recognition, including four fully illustrated published books, leading to her collaboration with U.S. author Joseph Bolton on her most extensive project to date. This book intricately dives into French-Canadian folklore, character self-growth, and prominently explores Joseph’s heritage and Native American roots from the Algonquin tribes while also embracing the unified connection to Natasha’s roots from the Ojibwe and Cree tribes, featured subtly throughout the book.
Natasha continues to immerse herself in illustrating Old Grandmother’s Tree, a project set to unfold in 2024. She eagerly anticipates witnessing the complete book materialize, viewing it as a symbol of culture to cherish. For a glimpse into Natasha’s individual artistry, her work can be explored at: https://welcome.natashapsartwork.ca/
