Meet Kevin Stevens – Strengthening Our Reptile & Exotic Expertise
At Smith’s, we’ve always taken pride in the knowledge and experience of our team. Helping customers give their pets the very best care has always been at the heart of what we do.
That’s why we’re excited to welcome Kevin Stevens, who is now working alongside our team to further expand our expertise in reptiles, aquatics, and exotic animals.
^ Not everyone's idea of fun, a few inches away from a highly venomous snake. This one I'm photographing is a Romans Saw Scaled Viper (Echis leucogaster) . A bite will make you bleed from every orifice, not a nice way to go...... 3am on a dried up river bed in Morocco
A Lifetime Passion for Reptiles
Kevin Stevens is a UK-based herpetologist whose lifelong passion for reptiles and amphibians began at the age of five, following an unexpected encounter with a wild great crested newt in his family home. A naturally solitary and intensely focused child, he quickly developed a deep fascination with herpetology, an interest that became both an obsession and a defining direction in life.
By the age of ten, Kevin had transformed his bedroom into a fully functioning reptile room, housing multiple vivaria and successfully breeding several exotic species. In an era before widespread access to information, his knowledge was built through extensive study in local libraries, combined with hands-on experience and a determination to understand the complexities of captive care.
^ San Diego Gophersnake - Pituophis catenifer annectens. Found at a coastal region of California whilst completing field work
Decades of Experience in the Industry
Throughout his teenage years, Kevin continued to expand both his collection and expertise, maintaining a strong interest in native UK wildlife alongside exotic species. During this time, he worked closely with respected zookeepers and established private keepers, gaining mentorship in safe handling, advanced husbandry, and breeding techniques.
By his early twenties, Kevin had established one of the UK’s first large-scale private breeding collections, focusing primarily on snakes. At its peak, the collection consisted of approximately 600 adult animals, producing thousands of offspring annually, placing him among the early pioneers of large-scale reptile breeding.
In 1993, at the age of 25, Kevin founded Coast to Coast Herpetoculture, later rebranded as Coast to Coast Exotics. The business quickly set itself apart by raising standards within the reptile retail sector, prioritising animal welfare, accurate husbandry, and customer education at a time when such practices were far from industry norm.
^ A wild Giant Galapagos Tortoise, making friends. Found on the Highlands of Santa Cruz island, Galapagos
Knowledge That Goes Beyond the Shop Floor
Alongside his commercial work, Kevin served as Journal Editor and committee member for the International Herpetological Society and contributed to a range of specialist publications. He was also involved with the Federation of British Herpetologists and the trade body REPTA, supporting the development of improved standards and responsible practices across the industry. As the business expanded internationally, Kevin established Zoo Logic, supplying zoos, specialist retailers, and wholesalers worldwide, with a continued emphasis on ethical sourcing and high welfare standards.
He later founded Coast to Coast Image Works, specialising in animal and wildlife photography, studio services, and media consultancy. Through this venture, Kevin worked with leading television production companies, providing set design, consultancy, and the ethical temporary supply of animals for film and television, including work associated with the Harry Potter film series. His work consistently prioritised animal welfare within media environments.
Alongside this, Kevin has undertaken festival and live music photography, further developing his ability to produce engaging visual content in fast-paced environments, skills that now support his work in digital media and business content creation.
Kevin has also worked as a consultant within the pet industry, including with the Australian company Aquatic One during the development of their Reptile One range.
^ On the hunt for the Thorny Devil (Moloch horridus) - took the opportunity to take pictures of Uluru (Ayers Rock) deep in the red centre of Australia.
Building on What We Already Do
Today Kevin is working alongside our existing team to build on the knowledge and service we already offer, strengthening what we do and helping us continue to grow and improve. His approach is grounded in transparency, education, and real-world experience, helping to guide the business. We’re proud of the team we’ve built at Smith’s, and bringing Kevin on board is another step in continuing to grow, improve, and offer the very best for both our customers and their animals.
