Sheldon Phillips Collection / Biography
Arthur Sheldon Phillips 1914-2001 - By Nick Poullis
Arthur Sheldon Phillips was an outstanding painter in the British tradition of watercolour painting whose work has become increasingly sought after amongst collectors and marine enthusiasts. He is represented in the collections of the City Museum Art Gallery Birmingham, England, Baron Philipe de Rothschild, the Royal Mail and the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists to which he was elected.
During his long career in art he exhibited with many of the major art societies based in London including the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, the Royal Society of Marine Artists and the Royal Watercolour Society where he won awards.
Usually painting in watercolour on site, Arthur developed a distinctive and personal style of painting. He painted all types of subject including townscape and landscape and had a particular interest in marine subject. Although now recognised as a great watercolorist, during the 1950’s and 1960’s he became best known for his work in television for the BBC and worked with Dame Judy Dench, he also worked at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre as a scenic artist on productions with Sir John Gielgood and Paul Schofield. This resulted in the commission of numerous murals and his major work at Chateaux Impney at Droitwich.
Despite the versatility of his talent, he developed a particular interest in marine subject and regularly painted the boats of the Thames estuary and would often develop his ideas and experiences of racing yachts in the studio. It was therefore natural that during his visits to various International destinations he was drawn to the boat clubs and activities around them, well represented in the Sheldon Phillips Canadian Print Series.
