Philip Holmes was born in Auckland in 1953 and grew up in Hawera and Taupo where Maori influences were strong. As a child he drew constantly and from an early age knew that he would pursue an artistic career. Philip began painting professionally in his early twenties exhibiting throughout New Zealand from early on in his career.

For some years he chose to paint traditional Maori portraits having studied Maori art and history. He later chose contemporary subjects for his portrait studies. Although there has long been a constant demand for works by this artist, such demand far exceeds their availability. The committed complexity of these paintings, results in a finished portrait reminding one of works by the mid to late 17th Century Flemish masters. Although the subject matter is clearly antipodean, the essence, aura and quality of the work is an impressive combination of European techniques embracing new world subject matter.