Emblazonments by the Nation's
Most Prolific Flag Artist
Art
Heraldic art allows for a rich diversity of styles. Like other great forms of art - music, cooking, dancing - the instructions form the core, but the realisation is open to interpretation. This is where heraldic artists like Philip come in.
Philip has come into the world of heraldic art in a fairly unusual manner. From an interest in graphic, rather than fine, art and having mastered his trade in vexillography where visibility & clarity are prized beyond all else.
Over 15 years Philip has provided the artwork for over 40 official flags, as well as several individual commissions. This has allowed him to develop an iconic main style as well as pioneering other formative sub-genres.
Signature
Style
As stated Philip's background leads him to emphasise visibility of form and meaning. Not only does this make his work versatile in the digital age, but means it harks back to the very purpose of heraldry at its origins.
This has led Philip to focus on clean lines and bold, muscular forms. Ornamentation and skeuomorphic texture is left to a minimum of cell shading to provide depth and contrast.
This does not mean that Philip's style is simple or basic. Philip loves to weave in extra thematic nods wherever he can. This often manifests in the mantle, helm breaths or scroll shape, to make a cohesive whole.
Japanese
Kamon
Japan has a heraldry system unrelated to that which became established in Europe. This system is called Mon or, when referring to family emblems in particular, Kamon (which this site will use for distinctiveness).
After a meeting with the Japanese Consul-General, who commented on the Kamon characteristics of Philip's heraldry, he started to explore how the systems could be fused.
Ultimately Philip has pioneered a way to use the structures of Scottish heraldry together with the geometry, patterns and forms to be found in Japanese heraldry - even reversing this to draw Japanese Kamon in European style.
Non-
Traditional
Philip's love of innovation means that he jumps at the chance to try new takes on heraldry. This can take the form of finding new ways to style official heraldry (much like his Kamon emblazonments), or heraldically inspired but unofficial artworks.
This ability is ideally suited for those looking at plausible but clearly unofficial designs. Philip is greatly honoured to have designed the fictional arms of his Chap-Hop hero, Professor Elemental.
In addition to the aforementioned Kamon and Steampunk styles, Philip has experimented with fantastical/middle earth/dark age emblazonments and is currently working on more modern themes such as Police inspired.
Showcase
Philip is well versed in the styles of Traditional-, Japanese- and non-Traditional styles of interpreting heraldic designs.
In addition there are also a wide variety of types of related heraldic symbol, such as lozenges, crests, etc that he is also familiar with.
A selection of these has been provided here for you to view. Select an image on the right to learn more and get a feel for his style.
