[2] From 1896 to 1909 Phillips studied and worked under George Walker Milburn at the York School of Science & Art.

[2] Whilst there he worked on the memorial designed by Temple Moore to Edith Cavell in Peterborough Cathedral.

He applied to a Military Service Tribunal, possibly because he was close to the upper age limit, and was given a short deferral; he was described in the Peterborough Express as a "sculptor in wood, stone and marble".

[7] He became a signaller[dubious – discuss] in the Royal Field Artillery, attaining the rank of corporal.

In 1923 he carved several grotesques including a falcon and a unicorn for St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

[9] He became head of sculpting at Bowman & Sons and is credited with works in the cathedrals of Bradford, Chelmsford, Southwark, Manchester and Peterborough.