Phil is a professional artist, specialising in painting in encaustic wax.

His commercial background began with the Road Transport Industry Training Board as a Trainee Graphic Artist studying Technical Graphics at Twickenham College of Art and Technology and, following time in Design and Advertising - working for The Leisure Circle Book Club, Publitek Advertising Agency, Avon Cosmetics, he was Creative Director for six years with the Sales Connection Group. In 1992 he went freelance and set up Lonestar Design - specialising in marketing communications and corporate identities.

Encaustic wax is a specialised hard art wax which is controlled by high heat and applied with a domestic iron and other heated implements. Once the picture is finished it is polished and a chemical sealer is then painted on ensuring complete protection and colour fastness. In some of the paintings special metallic wax is used, which causes some fantastic effects if the painting is viewed from different angles.

As Phil says, his Raison d'Etre is "Passion! This is not your Bluebell Woods, this is innovative, exciting and contemporary. It touches your soul, sometimes it is beautiful, sometimes a touch frightening, often you can see different images and feel different feelings - so many pictures in one."

Most of his paintings are titled, you either like it or you hate it, well that's your choice but the artist says he likes to give the viewer a starting point.

Phil is a member of the The Herts Visual Arts Forum, Berkhamsted Art Society and Bucks Visual Images Group. He has taught Masterclasses in Encaustic wax and given lectures to art clubs and societies. Phil has been an artist in residence at Missenden Abbey in Buckinghamshire and is teaching some weekend courses and a summer course next year. One of his paintings was voted best picture of the exhibition by the general public at The Rothschild Summer Art Exhibition in Tring. Private and commercial commissions welcome.

For further information on Phil's work, please visit www.philmadley.com