Walter Joseph Phillips

Walter J. Phillips is a significant Western Canadian watercolourist and printmaker. Born and trained in England he emigrated first to Winnipeg in 1913 where he taught painted and began printmaking. In 1917 he began experimenting with colour woodblock technique which he later came to master. He moved back to England for a year and was introduced to further influences that helped him to improve his woodblock technique but returned to Winnipeg and by 1926 was also visiting the Rockies which became a big inspiration to him. He also began visiting the West Coast including Victoria at this time. In 1940 he began teaching in Banff and eventually moved there. In his last three years he moved to Victoria.