Kelly Ann Smith was born in Spartanburg county, SC on May the 6th, 1970, where she still resides today. She is the eldest of five children who were all taught to use their creativity and imaginations to entertain themselves. Kelly has one child of her own, Todd Carder, who is the apple of her eye and is very like her in many ways.

Kelly is a self-taught artist who has been drawing for as long as she can remember and who has always been encouraged to pursue her love of art. Kelly was, and still is, inspired by her mother, Susan Smith, who is also an artist. Her high school art teacher, Janice Browning, was also instrumental in the direction Kelly's art has taken. She suggested that Kelly should attempt the challenge of drawing people along with the animals she then favored. Kelly drew a favorite rock star and was forever hooked! She still favors a rock and roll, gothic flair to her works.

Kelly enjoys creating and she draws her inspiration from many things. She is an avid reader who owns hundreds of books. Some of her favorite authors include J.R. Tolkien, Anne Rice and Stephen King but she loves any book with vampires or werewolves in it! Kelly also loves the outdoors ; she goes on hikes in the mountains often and she adores walking outside on any night when the moon is full and bright. Her musical tastes run the gamut although she is a rock and roller at heart . She love 80s hair bands, including Motley Crue, Poison and Bon Jovi. Rod Stewart, Stevie Nicks, Tantric, Seether, Prince, Sting ,Eric Clapton and John Mellencamp are also favorites along with too many more to name! Kelly attends music concerts and art fairs and festivals whenever she can. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends and is a huge fan of watching her son play various sports year round.