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When Speed began working on his art, he kept the matter confidential from all but his wife. His first sculpture was completed in an art class at BYU. It was at BYU that he met the cowboy artist and sculptor Earl Wesley Bascom (1906-1995).  Bascom happened to also be taking a BYU art class and knew members of the Speed family when he was rodeoing in the Deep South.  Bascom critiqued Speed's first sculpture and gave him encouragement.​

When Speed began working on his art, he kept the matter confidential from all but his wife. His first sculpture was completed in an art class at BYU. It was at BYU that he met the cowboy artist and sculptor Earl Wesley Bascom (1906-1995).  Bascom happened to also be taking a BYU art class and knew members of the Speed family when he was rodeoing in the Deep South.  Bascom critiqued Speed's first sculpture and gave him encouragement.​

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Speed also became associated with another local western artist, Hughes Curtis.  Curtis had set up one of Utah's first bronze casting operations in Springville where both sculptors cast their own creations. Later, Speed set up his own foundry in Lindon, Utah, with the help of his assistant, John Bascom, the son of Earl  Bascom. John Bascom was  an art student at BYU who had helped set up BYU's first bronze casting foundry and who was a master mold maker. Bascom was used as a model on horseback or in a saddle for some of Speed's sculptures.​

Speed also became associated with another local western artist, Hughes Curtis, who had set up one of Utah's first bronze casting operations in Springville where both sculptors cast their own creations. Later, Speed set up his own foundry in Lindon, Utah, with the help of his assistant, John Bascom, the son of Earl  Bascom. John Bascom was  an art student at BYU who had helped set up BYU's first bronze casting foundry and who was a master mold maker. Bascom was used as a model on horseback or in a saddle for some of Speed's sculptures.​

For eight years Speed continued teaching school but left that profession to devote full-time to his art. In 1965, Speed joined the professional art group, the Cowboy Artists of America, founded in 1965 in Sedona, [[Arizona]], serving as president and winning many of its awards.<ref name=speed/>​ Speed considered each of his bronze sculptures "an original, because in any edition none of the sculptures are exactly the same." His fellow artists recognized Speed not only for his art, but his character and faith. Despite his success in art, Speed comments that at times he still misses the cowboy ways of his youth.<ref name=speed/>​

For eight years Speed continued teaching school but left that profession to devote full-time to his art. In 1965, Speed joined the professional art group, the Cowboy Artists of America, founded in 1965 in Sedona, [[Arizona]], serving as president and winning many of its awards.<ref name=speed/>​ Speed considered each of his bronze sculptures "an original, because in any edition none of the sculptures are exactly the same." His fellow artists recognized Speed not only for his art, but his character and faith. Despite his success in art, Speed comments that at times he still misses the cowboy ways of his youth.<ref name=speed/>​

Speed has exhibited at the Phoenix Art Museum in [[Phoenix]], Arizona, and the Whitney Gallery of Western Art in Cody, [[Wyoming]]. Among his awards is the Gold Medal for Sculpture from Cowboy Artists of America<ref name=speed/> and the Prix de West Award from the National Academy of Western Art, affiliated with the formerly named National Cowboy Hall of Fame in [[Oklahoma City]], [[Oklahoma]]. Some of his work can be found in the hitney Gallery of Western Art and the Museum of [[Texas Tech University]] in [[Lubbock]]. The Texas Tech exhibits were formerly at the Diamond M Museum<ref name=speed/> in Snyder in Scurry County, which closed in 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/kld02|title=Diamond M Museum|publisher=The Texas Historical Association: ''The Handbook of Texas''|author=H. Allen Anderson|accessdate=January 17, 2020}}</ref>​

Speed has exhibited at the Phoenix Art Museum in [[Phoenix]], Arizona, and the Whitney Gallery of Western Art in Cody, [[Wyoming]]. Among his awards is the Gold Medal for Sculpture from Cowboy Artists of America<ref name=speed/> and the Prix de West Award from the National Academy of Western Art, affiliated with the formerly named National Cowboy Hall of Fame in [[Oklahoma City]], [[Oklahoma]]. Some of his work can also be found in the the Museum of [[Texas Tech University]] in [[Lubbock]]. The Texas Tech exhibits were formerly at the Diamond M Museum<ref name=speed/> in Snyder in Scurry County, which operated from 1964 to 1992, when it closed and sent its exhibits to the Texas Tech Museum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/kld02|title=Diamond M Museum|publisher=The Texas Historical Association: ''The Handbook of Texas''|author=H. Allen Anderson|accessdate=January 17, 2020}}</ref>​

His bronze equestrian sculpture "Night Ridin'" is displayed in the permanent art collection in the historic district of St. George, Utah.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sculptsite.com/sculpture-headlines-Grant%20Speed-sculpture-02-07-10.html|title=Grant Speed|publisher=sculptsite.com|accessdate=June 25, 2011}}</ref> His sculpture entitled "A Stop at the Line Camp" in 2011 sold for $4,800.<ref name=speed/> ​Speed's sculpture of legendary Texas cattleman Charles Goodnight (1836-1929) is housed in the Square House Museum in the city of Panhandle, Texas. In 2010, another of Speed's sculptures of Goodnight sold at auction for $5,400.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.altermann.com/gallery/pages/c103u10337.htm|title=2010 March Auction|publisher=altermann.com|accessdate=June 25, 2011}}</ref>​

His bronze equestrian sculpture "Night Ridin'" is displayed in the permanent art collection in the historic district of St. George, Utah.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sculptsite.com/sculpture-headlines-Grant%20Speed-sculpture-02-07-10.html|title=Grant Speed|publisher=sculptsite.com|accessdate=June 25, 2011}}</ref> His sculpture entitled "A Stop at the Line Camp" in 2011 sold for $4,800.<ref name=speed/> ​Speed's sculpture of legendary Texas cattleman Charles Goodnight (1836-1929) is housed in the Square House Museum in the city of Panhandle, Texas. In 2010, another of Speed's sculptures of Goodnight sold at auction for $5,400.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.altermann.com/gallery/pages/c103u10337.htm|title=2010 March Auction|publisher=altermann.com|accessdate=June 25, 2011}}</ref>​