Philip Holley

Profile

City: Sydney
Country: Australia

Joined: Nov 2008

Tattooist inspired by nature

Neutral Bay Artist Philip Holley was born in the sleepy English town of Chipping Sodbury at a time when Frank Sinatra sang of Strangers in the Night while his daughter Nancy preferred boots that were made for walking!! The middle of three children, Philip’s early years were spent scrabbling around in the garden watching the wildlife that lived there.

This passion for flora and fauna continued to ‘blossom’ the older he became and drawing what he loved seemed to become second nature. At school Philip excelled at art, though did not pursue this as a formal qualification. Philip had no formal art training, but preferred to teach himself through reading, watching others or simple perseverance.

Not believing Art would be plausible career move Philip took up Gardening, ( his second passion) on a professional level deep in the Cotswold’s on a large private estate where he was still at one with the wildlife that surrounded him everyday which only served to inspire him further with his wildlife illustration.

Philip was constantly on the lookout for new methods or techniques to develop his artistic ability. This took a surprising twist and led him into tattooing. Again, Philip taught himself how to tattoo and soon earned a reputation locally for his unique style of ‘tribal’ tattoo’s. He opened a successful tattoo studio and had customers travelling from all over the UK & France to sample his work.

Philip moved to Australia in July 2006 when his partner was relocated by his employer. The time seemed right for Philip to leave the tattoo business behind and focus on more conventional art forms. Philip is now a full time Freelance Artist running courses at North Sydney Community Centre. Philip illustrates what inspires him. Nature inspires Philip