Full-Length Artist Biography

Iain Smillie
Multidisciplinary Artist | Founder of The Haus of Legends | Creative Visionary

Scottish-born and Los Angeles-based, Iain Smillie is a multidisciplinary artist, photographer, and creative powerhouse whose career weaves together bold visual storytelling, immersive design, and deeply personal narrative. With over 30 years of experience in the arts, entertainment, and LGBTQ+ advocacy, Iain has made his mark by transforming imagination into form—and by inspiring others to do the same.

Iain is the founder and creative force behind The Haus of Legends, a hybrid art studio and creative platform headquartered in a historically significant 1920s Arcadian residence—formerly home to His Highness Prince Erik, Count of Rosenborg. The Haus operates as both a digital gallery and a living archive of original artwork, photography, music, videos, and storytelling. It also serves as a sanctuary for dreamers, visionaries, and those who dare to live and create with legendary purpose.

Trained in Graphic Art Communication and Photography at Pasadena City College, Iain’s artistry spans mediums and movements—ranging from neo-expressionist and surrealist prints to pop-art portraits, digital collage, mythic storytelling, and sacred geometry. His photographic work captures the texture of both the divine and the everyday, while his digital art collections—including Black Celestial Royalty, Where Unicorns Never Die, and Castles in the Clouds—explore themes of beauty, belonging, queerness, and the eternal interplay between fantasy and truth.

Beyond the canvas, Iain has worn many hats: Art Director, Event Producer, Copywriter, Video Editor, Music Creator, Non-Profit Fundraiser, Hospitality Manager, and LGBTQ+ Advocate. He has worked in leadership roles with some of the most iconic names in gay adult entertainment, including Channel 1 Releasing, Pacific Sun Entertainment, and Renegade Releasing, where he helped shape national sales strategies, branding, and promotional media.

With over a decade of experience in nightlife and hospitality, Iain’s work behind the scenes of mega clubs like Empire Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, further reflects his gift for curation, ambiance, and community. He also brings over 10 years of nonprofit service to local LGBTQ+ organizations in Southern California, helping raise both funds and awareness through art-driven events, public speaking, and community outreach.

At the core of Iain’s philosophy is a deep respect for authenticity, originality, and reinvention. His creative process is equal parts disciplined craft and divine chaos—often blending visual media with poetic writing, music composition, and digital storytelling. His guiding belief? That everything—especially what sets us apart—deserves to be seen, honored, and made legendary.


Press Bio (150 Words)

Iain Smillie is a Scottish-born, California-based multidisciplinary artist, photographer, and the founder of The Haus of Legends. With over 30 years of experience across the visual arts, LGBTQ+ entertainment, hospitality, and nonprofit sectors, Iain blends digital and traditional mediums to create mythic, emotionally resonant works. His art collections explore themes of queerness, fantasy, identity, and sacred beauty—often expressed through vibrant digital collage, portraiture, and narrative design. A former studio executive and entertainment director, Iain’s work is deeply rooted in storytelling, advocacy, and community empowerment. The Haus of Legends serves as both his studio and a collaborative space for inspiration and transformation. Through visual art, music, blog writing, and multimedia production, Iain invites audiences to step into a world where imagination is limitless and individuality is celebrated.


Résumé/CV Bio (Professional Tone – 100 Words)

Iain Smillie is an experienced multidisciplinary artist, designer, and photographer with over 30 years of creative industry experience. He holds an Associate of Arts in Graphic Art Communication and Photography from Pasadena City College and is the founder of The Haus of Legends, a creative studio based in Arcadia, California. Iain has worked as an art director, content producer, event manager, studio executive, and nonprofit advocate. His expertise includes visual storytelling, brand development, community outreach, and LGBTQ+ fundraising. His art spans fine art prints, photography, video, music, and digital media, with a focus on individuality, transformation, and expressive design.


Instagram Bio (150 Characters)

🎨 Artist. Photographer. Visionary.
📍Los Angeles, CA | Founder: @TheHausOfLegends
✨ Creating worlds where art, identity & legend collide.


Exhibition/Grant Artist Statement (250 Words)

As a multidisciplinary artist, my work explores the sacred intersections of identity, imagination, and reinvention. I use digital collage, photography, and mixed media to weave visual narratives that embrace queerness, myth, and the power of transformation. My collections—including Black Celestial Royalty and Where Unicorns Never Die—are deeply personal yet universally symbolic, celebrating the parts of ourselves we’re told to hide or abandon. Instead, I bring them to the surface.

I am the founder of The Haus of Legends, an evolving studio, sanctuary, and storytelling platform that lives online and in the historical home I’ve restored in Arcadia, California. My creative journey is shaped by decades of experience in visual art, hospitality, music, and LGBTQ+ entertainment. I’ve worked as a studio executive, nightclub entertainment director, photographer, designer, writer, and nonprofit advocate. These diverse roles have allowed me to curate experiences that don’t just look beautiful—they feel alive.

Every piece I create invites the viewer to see themselves reflected in new light—to become the hero, the deity, the unicorn, the legend. My art is not just about what we see but how we see ourselves. In a world that too often demands conformity, I use my art to honor the unique, the sacred, and the beautifully strange.

How did you discover The Haus of Legends?