|
Philip was born in
Cork, Ireland, in 1959. From the age of 5 he loved art, and one of
his earliest memories is being tutored in figurative drawing by a
family friend, Trevor Scott, the founder of the renowned College of
Art and Design in Dublin. At the age of 16, Philip left school and
joined the Irish Navy. Once he had established himself as a naval
diver, he began to paint at sea and soon became prolific. He had the
great advantage of having a unique perspective on Irish landscapes
and seascapes as viewed from the Atlantic Ocean. The magic in
Philip’s art lies in his ability to use his artistic creativity as a
natural form of communication. With the extraordinary beauty of the
mountainous western island, Ireland, as his inspiration, Philip’s
art provides us with the opportunity, albeit momentarily, to remove
ourselves from the chaos of day to day life and appreciate the
ordered beauty of nature. After 17 years in the Navy, and with much
encouragement from his wife and family, Philip relinquished his
naval career and took the bold step of setting up on his own as an
artist. His success was such that he has since become one of
Ireland’s most celebrated living artists. Philip’s work is sold all
over the world and his celebrity collectors include Bill
Clinton and George W Bush. |