Carlton Alfred Smith was a painter, mainly in watercolour, of gentle rural genre scenes, including many of mothers and daughters.

Carlton Alfred Smith was born in Camden Town, London, on 27 August 1853, the son of a steel engraver. He was educated in France, and then studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, winning gold and silver medals. Initially, he worked as a lithographer before turning to painting. He exhibited mainly at the Royal Society of British Artists (being elected a member in 1879), the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI 1889) and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI 1890), and also at the Royal Academy of Arts.

By 1891, Smith was married to the coastal painter, Martha (née King), and they were living at 72 Park Road, Hampstead, with their two young daughters. A decade later, in 1901, they had moved to Surrey, and were living at Vine Cottage, Witley Crossways, Witley. Then, by 1911, they had moved again, and were living at 31 Fairfax Road, Chiswick, their daughters having grown up and left home.

Smith spent the years between 1916 and 1923 in India, during which time he produced both portraits and fascinating scenes of street life.

Carlton Alfred Smith died in London on 3 December 1946.