Phil originally left his hometown of Barnsley to take up professional dance training at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds and, much to the dismay of others, to ‘come out’. 

He went on to enjoy a flamboyant career of touring world class stages, appearing in television and film productions, and working with some of the most renowned and queer choreographers to be found. Several years later, he also began fundraising and producing local and international cultural events. He became more of a dance-maker, mentor and educator and, as his creative interests evolved, he became much more politically centred around queer visibility and coming out stories. Today he works both as a professional coach and trainer, and the wellbeing of the LGBTQ+ community is a focal point of his practice.