Painted the same year that Jack Smith held his first solo show at Helen Lessore's Beaux Arts Gallery, Portrait of Jack Smith was painted in Greaves's front room studio at 44 Pembroke Road, London W8. This was a house shared by a group of young artists, including Greaves's childhood friend from Sheffield, Jack Smith, who had the room next door.

It is the only portrait that Derrick Greaves painted of Jack Smith, making it an important "kitchen-sink" work.

The work has been retained until now by Derrick Greaves and has never been published or exhibited.

Purchased 2006 by the National Portrait Gallery.