Ron Baxter Smith was born in Toronto, Canada where he studied Fine Arts and Education at York University.

His photography can be found in the permanent collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, The National Gallery of Canada, The National Archive and The National Portrait Gallery to name a few. He has been the recipient of a Canada Council B Grant, an Ontario Arts Council Grant and a grant from York University to study abroad in Florence, Italy. He has exhibited in Milan, Perugia, Moscow, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and New York.

In 2007, the Provence of Umbria, Italy awarded him with the "L'Umbria Del Cuore" Award given to celebrated artists who have made Umbria their second home. They honored him with a book of his work and an exhibition in Corciano, Italy.

As a commercial photographer, he has won over 425 awards. Hi work has been published in Graphis Photo, Nudes, Design, Poster, Advertising, Brochure, Alternate Photography and Annual Report. He has won medals in the D&AD, The New York Art Director's Club, The ADCC and has been included in many AIGA Graphic Design Annuals. In 1994 Communication Arts did a feature article on his work. He has shot for GQ, The New York Times Magazine, Men's Journal, Discover, Time and Newsweek and his work has been published in Vogue, Elle Decor, Wallpaper, W and Vanity Fair.

As a commercial film director, he has won consecutive gold awards in the Mobius Show, The Bessies and The Houston Film Festival. He was awarded the Leo Burnett Gold Award for Best Campaign Worldwide and this same campaign was awarded as one of the Top Ten Ads of the Century by The Institute of Communication in Advertising. He has been a Cannes Finalist and has won the Saatchi and Saatchi First Cut Award.