Bill Phillips took the Certificate course in Botanical Illustration at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh in 2013, winning the prize for best student portfolio. This was an interesting and enjoyable experience and was followed by the 2-year Diploma in Botanical Illustration, graduating with Distinction in 2015.

Bill continues to develop a strong and individual watercolour style, focusing on botanical subjects, but with still life and landscape also represented. Currently, he is leading workshops in botanical drawing and watercolour for beginners at the Birnam Institute.

Exhibitions include the RBGE, BISCOT, the Edinburgh Society of Botanical Artists, Dunkeld Art Exhibition and the Perth Art Association at the 64th and 65th Annual Exhibitions and the 2017 and 2018 Arts Festival Exhibitions. Bill was a short-listed artist for the National Open Art Competition 2017. His painting Beech Hedge at Meikleour was accepted for the 7th RSW Open Summer Exhibition 2018