Phil received an MFA in Drawing from the New York Academy of Art, and a BA in Writing from SUNY Purchase. In between, he completed a year long independent study of Old Master drawings at the British Museum, which he credits with 'really learning to draw.'

Phil has had his portraiture appear in The New York Times; NPR; and on NY1 News. He is in the permanent collection of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell and has commissioned portraits in the collections of Columbia University and NYU's School of International Students and Scholars.

He teaches Cast Drawing at the Art Students League of New York, and has taught Life Drawing to undergrads at the the New York Academy of Art, as well as at The Salmagundi Club.