Born and raised in western Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Phil grew up surrounded by farmland and woodlands in which he spent hours playing and exploring. He feels most at home surrounded by wildlife and nature. To this day, the deer and birds arrive within a few feet of his studio door seeking his attention and nibbling on the shrubbery and flowers surrounding the studio.

His love of nature has been amplified with his love of metallurgy which has been a passion throughout his life. While he learned a great deal of his woodworking skills from his father who was a finish carpenter, he was introduced to the world of metal through shop classes in middle and high school. Despite his father’s tutelage, he was drawn to metal from the start. Learning from experience, he taught himself welding and forging. By adding heat and pressure to a solid mass of steel, he found he was able to make the unbendable bendable allowing him to sculpt metal like putty. As a result, he found his options for combining nature and metallurgy limitless.

Phil has combined his deep love of nature with his skill in crafting metal to represent the flow of nature in a more permanent manner. He draws inspiration from the pond and gardens in his yard as well as other outdoor habitats. As he has spent his entire life working outside in nature, his inspiration is vast and his past experiences continue to impact his body of work.