Phil is a contemporary realist artist specialising in figurative works, portraits, and still-life. His preferred method of working is primarily from life under natural light. Phil worked in Information Technology before taking up studies of classical drawing and painting techniques.
Phil has studied at the Julian Ashton Art School in Sydney and has also studied classical drawing and painting techniques in Italy at the Florence Academy of Art. Phil has been a finalist in major realist drawing and painting prizes such as the Alice Bale and Kenneth Jack Memorial Award as well as being a finalist in the Percival Portrait Prize, Blue Mountains Portraits, Mudgee Portrait Prize and the National Portrait Gallery Darling Portrait Prize. Phil also has been an instructor in classical drawing and painting techniques and artistic anatomy at the ARC accredited Julian Ashton Art School.
Phil is available for commissions and workshops.
Artist Statement
Drawing and painting has always seemed magical, especially being able to capture lighting and mood. I have always had a fascination with technique and process, and this has transferred to my art practice with a deep interest in the classical techniques of the study and application of the skills of drawing and painting.
Travel to Europe and studying at the Florence Academy of Art and at Australia’s famous Julian Ashton Art School have given me some of these foundation skills to express my love of light on simple, everyday objects.
In this mad, cruel and rushed world I’d like to bring a little peace and beauty into it, whilst also emphasizing a joy in taking time to perfect something that will hopefully not go straight to landfill after a fleeting moment of instant gratification. I take my influences, materials and techniques from the Dutch golden age. Using natural light and historical pigments on a archival supports such as copper plate, for a lasting work that doesn’t shout, but asks for a deeper and more contemplative response.
Selected exhibitions
2026
Society of Mountains Artists Spring Exhibition
Finalist Calleen Art Award, Cowra Art Gallery
Finalist Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery
Finalist Lethbridge 20000 Smallscale Art Award, Lethbridge Gallery
Finalist Stanthorpe Art Prize, Stanthorpe Art Gallery
Collectors’ Edition #12, Blue Mountains Cultural Centre (by Invitation)
Special Invitation, Portland Art Prize
2025
Finalist, AME Bale Painting Prize
Group Show, Society of Mountain Artists, Leura.
The Agency Still Life Prize, Bowral Art Gallery
Semi-Finalist Maldon Portrait Prize
Semi-Finalist, Lethbridge 20000 Smallscale Art Award, Lethbridge Gallery
Collectors’ Edition #11, Blue Mountains Cultural Centre (by Invitation)
2024
Finalist, Mudgee Portrait Prize (2 portraits)
Finalist, Lethbridge 20000 Smallscale Art Award, Lethbridge Gallery
Group Show “The Art of Still Life” at Arts Blue Mountains
First Prize, Portland Art Show
Blackheath Art Society Easter Show
Collectors’ Edition #10, Blue Mountains Cultural Centre (by Invitation)
2023
Bathurst Art Fair
Finalist Calleen Art Award
Finalist in the invitation only Kedumba Award
Collectors’ Edition #9, Blue Mountains Cultural Centre (by Invitation)
Blackheath Art Society Easter Show
Solo show and Silverpoint workshop at Kedumba Gallery
Portland Art Show
2022
Finalist, Mudgee Arts Precinct Portrait Prize Group show
JAAS Summer Exhibition at the SMSA
Finalist, Lethbridge 20000 Smallscale Art Award, Lethbridge Gallery
Finalist, Darling Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery
Commended, Blackheath Art Society
Collectors’ Edition #8, Blue Mountains Cultural Centre (by Invitation)
Portland Art Show, Crystal Theatre Portland
Blue Mountains Portraits, Blue Mountains Cultural Centre
2021
Finalist Calleen Art Award
Finalist Kenneth Jack Memorial Drawing Award. The Australian Guild of Realist Artists
Finalist Southern Buoy Portrait Prize
Winner, Mary Hampton Prize, Portland Art Show
Commended, Blackheath Art Show
Semi-Finalist Lethbridge Small Scale Art Award
2020
Finalist AME Bale Works on Paper Prize
Finalist Waverly Art Prize
Finalist Lethbridge Small Scale Art Award
Finalist Percival Portrait Painting Prize
2019
Julian Ashton Art School Teachers and Students Exhibition
Finalist – Hunters Hill Art Prize
Highly Commended (Portrait) – Blackheath Art Show
2018
Awarded Sydney Mechanics School of Arts Scholarship for full time study at the Julian Ashton Art School
Julian Ashton Art School Teachers and Students Exhibition
Finalist – Hunters Hill Art Prize
Highly Commended (Still Life) – Blackheath Art Show
2017
Henry Gibbons Life Drawing Award at the Julian Ashtons Art School Teachers and Students exhibition
Finalist – Blacktown City Art Prize
Highly Commended (Portrait) at the Blackheath Art Show
Awarded Best Portrait – Springwood Art Show
Workshop Instructor and teaching positions
Julian Ashton Art School, 2022 – I previously taught classical drawing on Tuesdays and Fridays at the Julian Ashton Art School in The Rocks Sydney however I am taking a break to focus on painting.
Society of Mountain Artists Demonstration 2025
Kedumba Gallery, Aug 2022 and 2023 – Workshops on Silverpoint history, materials and techniques
Blackheath Art Society 2018 – Workshop on classical figure drawing techniques
Education
Julian Ashton Art School – Diploma of Fine Art 2019
Florence Academy of Art – Intensive Workshops – 2017