John Arthur Smith was born in Reading, Berkshire, England in 1870 and was articled to Charles Smith (1832-1912) in Reading in 1887. He also attended Reading School of Art and the Architectural Association Schools in London. He worked as an assistant to Alfred Hessel Tiltman (1854-1910); to Frederick George Knight (?-1930); and to Sir Aston Webb (1849-1930).
Smith commenced independent practice as an architect in London in 1895 and was in partnership with Francis Hugh Greenaway (1869-1935) in London from 1895 to 1899. In 1899 Smith relocated to Basingstoke, Hampshire where from 1899 to 1938 he was in practice with Richard Sterry Wallis (1856-1924) as Wallis & Smith. Smith's son Charles Hubert B. Smith (?-1960) later joined the practice.
In the 1920s Smith was architect to Board of Guardians of Basingstoke Union, and to J. May & Co., Ltd., brewers, Basingstoke.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1907 and was founder member and subsequently President of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Architectural Association.
Smith's address was given as 19 Winchester Street, Basingstoke, Hampshire in 1907; The Leas, Basingstoke, Hampshire in 1907 and 1914; 5, Church Square, Basingstoke, Hampshire in 1914 and 1926; Nateley Hill, Hook, Hampshire and 8 Cross Street, Basingstoke, Hampshire in 1930; and Lingdale Hook, Basingstoke, Hampshire in 1938. He died in Hampshire on 30 May 1938. His obituary appeared in The Architect & Building News 17 June 1938.
Southampton Isolation Hospital, 1890-7; Basingstoke Borough housing scheme, 1919-22; Basingstoke War memorial, 1923; Barclays Bank, Basingstoke, 1922. He also designed the Station Hotel, Basingstoke, and various other domestic and commercial buildings in and around Basingstoke and neighbourhood.
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 2: L-Z. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001