Born in southern New Mexico, John grew up in Australia, Indonesia, California and the American Southwest. His work may be described as a unique blend of realism and impressionism. Primarily a plein air painter, John travels to the Rocky Mountains and Europe to explore the intriguing light.
        "My paintings include very few elements of modern human encroachment," according to John. "Perhaps that's a bit of the idealist or naturalist in me. What I paint is where I'd like to be. Above all my goal is to share the moods of nature with my viewer."
        In 1992, Phillips shocked his business associates when he declared he was giving up his job as a successful corporate manager to devote his life to painting. Gifted with great innate talent, his work already rivals other contemporary Western landscape painters. He received the Award of Excellence at the Oil Painters of America 1997 Mountain Regional Exhibit. He has been featured as "an artist worth watching," in Art Talk and Southwest Art publications.