Philip High has worked primarily in Acrylics on Tyvek (a spun polyethylene paper/fabric hybrid) since the mid 1990s. His use of these materials can take a variety of physical forms, such as: paint on paper, collage, soft structure hangings and wrapped panels. His motivating interests tend to be psychological and philosophical and his pieces are approached via issues of perception as well as intuitive exploration, while using nature as a reference to inform a process-oriented abstraction. Varying levels of representation are sometimes introduced.

High was born in Louisville, Kentucky and began studying art as a teenager. He attended the University of Kentucky in Lexington, where he majored in painting. Studies there also included lithography and two semesters of ceramics with John Tuska, whose professionalism and classical proficiency he sites as a lasting influence. In the habit of eschewing conventional routes, he left school a year before graduation to pursue a spiritual path.

Shortly thereafter he moved to Atlanta, Georgia and was introduced to graphic arts. There followed 20+ years of continuing self-study in fine art along with the development of a career in graphic design and illustration. In the early 1980’s he became involved with computer graphics and in 1989 he returned to Lexington, Kentucky where he also began painting seriously again.

He has received several National and International awards for fine art and illustration created with a computer, as well as two Professional Assistance Grants from the Kentucky Arts Council in graphics and painting. His work is part of the permanent collection of Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Lexington, as well as numerous private collectors across the United States. In 2009 his painting “Heart to Run – Soul to Sing” was chosen for the, Spotlight Lexington Festival/2010 World Equestrian Games commemorative print.