Pamela Colman Smith (1878–1951)
The artist behind the most famous tarot deck in the world and a woman full of secrets, symbols, and spectral charm.
Who Was She?
Pamela Colman Smith — known to friends as Pixie — was a British-Jamaican illustrator, folklorist, stage designer, and writer. She’s best known for illustrating the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck (first published in 1909), the deck that most modern tarot interpretations are based on.
But she wasn’t just a hired hand.
She was the creative heart behind the images that shaped modern tarot.
And she was a bit of an odd one — in the best possible way.
Quirks, Ghosts, and Tea Parties
Pixie:
- Claimed to see and communicate with ghosts. Frequently.
- Had a deep love for folklore, fairy tales, and West Indian spiritual traditions (her mother was Jamaican).
- Wore Turkish robes and loose dresses around London before it was remotely fashionable.
- Hosted wild “art and tea” parties at her home for struggling artists, poets, and misfits.
- Was often financially broke but gave away art freely.
- Converted to Catholicism later in life and may have destroyed some of her own occult artwork.
She signed her art as “Pixie” or “P.C.S.” and had a habit of including hidden faces, symbols, and secret codes in her illustrations.
And yet, despite her contribution to the most iconic tarot deck in the world…
She died penniless and was buried in an unmarked grave.
Not a single member of the Golden Dawn (the occult group who used her deck) attended her funeral.
What Makes Her Tarot So Important?
Before Pixie, most tarot decks showed only pips on the Minor Arcana — think “5 of swords = five literal swords.” Boring. Abstract.
She changed that.
She illustrated full scenes — people, emotions, and environments — even for the lesser cards. It made tarot readable for anyone, not just trained occultists.
That’s why so many tarot readers, even today, swear by the Rider-Waite-Smith deck — because Pixie’s art tells the story.
Quote That Sums Her Up
“I make pictures… for what they are worth.” — P.C.S.
(Spoiler: they were worth a hell of a lot, just not in her lifetime.)