Brought up on a busy stock route, Philip reconnected with the dust, shouts and cracking stock whips of his childhood. The embers of his artistic gift were fanned into life when he picked up his brushes in 1983 and started to depict the outback people, scenery and livestock which had so captured his imagination.
Phil’s originals were purchased by Kurt Barry for his gallery in Orchid Ave Surfers Paradise, where his art was displayed alongside the works of his mentors, artists D’Arcy Doyle and Sir Patrick Kilvington.
Encouraged by Doyle, Phil produced limited edition prints from 1988 for distribution by many entities throughout Australia, including Boolarong Fine Art Publishers. One of the biggest distributers of Phil’s work has been Fairfax Australia through their weekly newspapers, The Land, Queensland Country Life and their stable of magazines.
This wide distribution attracted corporate interest. RACQ commissioned him to spear-head membership drives in Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville.
Other commissioned works include painting for NAB chairman, Sir Rupert Clarke’s private collection and QCL general manager, Joe Wallman. Phil was commissioned by AA Company and flown to their flagship cattle station, Brunette Downs to paint an exclusive work for the company, with some of his images also being used in their export marketing program. Impressed by Phil’s unique artistic ability, Brahman Breeders, Santa Gertrudis Association, Queensland Stock Horse Society and Landcare all took an enthusiastic interest in Phil’s work, using it to promote their respective interests.
The late legendary RM Williams took a personal interest in his work and asked Philip to exhibit at his iconic Stockman’s Hall of Fame. Inspired by the boisterous mustering and droving scenes, RM opened an exhibition of Phil’s in Toowoomba.
From 1990 onward, Philip continued producing limited edition prints, retaining the increasingly valuable original artworks, which became known as The Richmond Collection.
After a segment featuring Phil’s art on ABC’s Landline, he was approached by Blair Roots to go bush with him and do a program for this highly regarded series. Similarly, QCL’s manager was keen to travel the outback with Phil to create a collection of articles about his artwork and see this magnificent country through his eyes. However, time constraints prevented Phil from taking up these offers.
Alongside Phil’s artist nature and deep emotion ran a profound passion and concern for those around him. He established a gym as an innovative ministry to support men, which subsequently grew to encompass a church and a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program.
Having devoted much of his time to this socially extremely important mission, Phil the idealist, is once again free to immerse himself in his great passion for fine art.
Many will be excited to know that Phil can again be found, brush in hand, passionately recording his emotional connection with the spirit of the bush. He invites you to journey with him and be inspired as he captures the people, animals, billabongs and the beauty of this big land.
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