Philip Cottier, a lawyer by training, has been painting intermittently since his teenage years. Members of his family have either painted or drawn and that has been of tremendous assistance in providing inspiration and direction for Philip.

Philip notes his influences as that of the Australian Impressionist School and he enjoys painting outdoors, with nature right in front of him. He has also obtained inspiration from the European Post Impressionists.

He paints mainly in acrylic and oil, and has had several exhibitions in the last few years, including Chirnside Park Art Show, Warrandyte Festival Art Show and Canterbury Primary School over the last two years. He held, with two other artists, a three week long exhibition at South Melbourne's Malthouse Theatre in 2001.

The challenge with landscape painting is to introduce freshness and a new perspective to what have become familiar themes. Philip's favourite places for inspiration are the beaches of Port Phillip Bay, the forests and hills of the Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Valley. Philip recently returned to painting in oils because he finds that there is greater depth and voluptuousness to oil paint. It helps him capture the subtlety, light and mood of the Australian landscape.