Peter Phillips (b. 1939)

The present work was a gift from Peter Phillips to his beloved wife Claude, on her 30th birthday. They had married in 1970 and remained devoted to one another up until the day she died. She tragically passed away in 2003 and this painting had always remained treasured in her personal collection. The picture is painted predominantly black because that was Claude’s favourite colour but subtle pops of bright pigment can be seen around the edges of the letters and stars, alluding to her vibrant personality.

Their daughter Zoë Lana Phillips-Price comments, ‘Claude’s birthday was November 6th. She was a Scorpio, fiery and full of life. Together they experienced everything. They stayed madly in love until the day she died and were together for more than 30 years when she passed. She was the love of his life. She left us too early’ (see exhibition catalogue, Pop Art Heroes Britain, London, Whitford Fine Art, 2016, p. 48).