WHAT LIES BENEATH
DIVING IN MEXICO AND CHINA
Philip has undertaken dives all over the world, in oceans, caverns and lakes, and defied the rules by producing some extraordinary paintings underwater.
In 2019, Philip’s documentary ‘A Peace Within’ was selected for the World Ocean Film Festival which toured UK cinemas in the autumn. In this beautiful and atmospheric film, we watch him venture below the surface to paint Mexico’s ‘cenotes’ – astounding clear-water subterranean pools, viewed by the ancient Mayans as gateways to the afterlife.
“SEEING THOSE VAST RAYS OF SUNLIGHT ILLUMINATE THE DEPTHS WAS ONE OF THE MOST EMOTIONAL, ALMOST MYSTICAL, EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE.”
The famous submerged city of Shicheng (‘Lion City’), beneath China’s Qiandao Lake is a magnificent 600 year old time capsule of Imperial China. The water has preserved the city beautifully, but in the absence of natural light it is hard to imagine it as a living metropolis brimming with life, vibrancy and colour – so in these dazzling paintings Philip has reimagined it on our behalf.
