Raised on a farm, his early experiences were shaped by the sublime expanse of the prairie landscape. He majored in studio art at the University of Saskatchewan, which he attended on scholarship and from which he graduated with distinction. He holds an additional degree in architecture from the University of Waterloo, Ontario. His final project in architecture was included in an exhibition on suburban planning and design at the Mississauga City Hall (Ontario). Phillips was the youngest artist to be given a solo exhibition at the Canadian Consulate in Chicago. His work has been exhibited across Canada and the United States and is included in numerous private and public collections in Canada, the United States, and Europe. Phillips lives and works in Vancouver, where he continues his exploration of color and gesture and issues of perception related to memory and loss.