Danny Smith

Born in Wallingford in 1975 and now based in Oxford, Danny Smith is a multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker with Down Syndrome and a long-standing member of the Shadowlight Artists collective supported by Film Oxford. His practice spans performance, film, photography, painting, and collage, often exploring themes of independence, empowerment, and personal transformation. Danny’s dance-for-camera works have gained international recognition, with his film Time to Leave winning Best Dance Film at Oska Bright 2019 and being selected by Agite y Sirva, an international touring dance festival based in Mexico that exhibits across North, South, and Central America. His visual art has been exhibited widely, and recent projects see him collaborating with choreographers and filmmakers to create deeply personal works, alongside developing installation and collage pieces that emerged during lockdown. Through his art, Danny aims to inspire others and challenge perceptions of disability, proudly positioning himself as a role model for creative independence.