Edward Francis-Smith, born in Cornwall in 1996, began studying the double bass with Thomas Martin at age 12 and continued studying with him at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire until 2016. He then attended the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, studying under Harold Robinson and Edgar Meyer, and graduated in 2018.

Edward has performed and toured with numerous British orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also had principal experiences with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Welsh National Opera, as well as assistant principal experience with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, Edward was a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra from 2013 to 2016.

He has performed at the International Musicians Seminar at Prussia Cove as a chamber musician. In April 2018, Edward became the newest member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York under maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin.