Alec Smithers was born was born in Kennington, Surrey, England in 1878 and trained as an architect at the Royal Academy Schools and the Architectural Association Schools in London. He was also articled to William Campbell Jones (1862-1951) in London and worked as his assistant from 1901. He qualified as an architect in 1908. In 1919 he became a partner in the architectural practice Campbell Jones & Partners which was renamed Campbell-Jones, Sons & Smithers. They remained in partnership until 1937. Following the dissolution of the partnership Smithers worked alone at practice at 27 Bunhill Row, London.
Smithers was architect to the English Education Exhibition in 1900 and was architect to the charity Toc H.
He was awarded the Architectural Association Bronze Medal in 1895 and the Architectural Association Silver Medal the following year. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1908 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1920. He died in Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire on 23 September 1949
Cottages at Hascombe, Sunninghill and Godalming; residences in Chile, Surbiton and Chelsea; additions to Dillingham Manor, Isle of Wight. In partnership with W. Campbell Jones since 1919: — Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank; London Assurance Buildings; Gresham Club; Provident Mutual Assurance Building; Lloyds Bank, King William Street; Anglo-Egyptian Bank; British Overseas Bank; Merchants' Marine Insurance Building; Hotel Victoria (Edward VII. Rooms); Anglo-Persian Oil Coy.'s offices; R.S.B. Hospital, Margate (new wards); Westminster Bank, Harley Street; office buildings for Messrs. Benns, Fleet Street; Barclays Bank, New Bond Street; alterations at All Hallows Church, Barking; domestic work at Bishop's Stortford and alterations and additions in various parts of England. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1923]
Smithers designed the The King George extension to Moorfields Eye Hospital on City Road, London in 1933.
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
Who's Who in Architecture 1923. Edited by Frederick Carrington. London: The Architectural Press, 1923