Yvonne Bailey-Smith was was born in Jamaica in 1954 and immigrated to the UK in 1969. She trained and worked first as a social worker before becoming a psychotherapist. She is also a Water Aid Supporter and passionate about providing clean water and sanitation in developing countries. She is the mother of three children: novelist Zadie Smith; actor, musician and children's book author Ben Bailey Smith; and lyricist and writer LucSkyz. She lives in Willesden in London NW2.