If you've ever told the team you love a piece but aren’t sure how it would work in your space, the chances are they’ll have suggested a visit from Philip. You’re less likely to see him around the gallery itself as he’s so often out on the road, providing home consultations, delivering new favourites and hanging them carefully for our clients.
As Senior Art Consultant and lead of our Concierge and Delivery Service, Philip is a big part of the "we'll get that to you" attitude of the whole team. With a role that has him working as driver and fitter, to supplement his hugely experienced role as interior consultant and art expert, Philip wants to share his love of art and design with all our customers. He brings over 30 years' experience in interior design and art publishing to The Rose Gallery team, and in his world, no two days ever look the same.
We thought it would be fun to spend some time with Philip recently to find out what one of those days might actually look like.
Philip's day usually starts before most of the team arrives. With a coffee in hand, his first job is to work through his schedule of deliveries, installations, and client visits, mapping them out.
This is where the beauty of our team really shines; a quick word with Dinah or Beth makes sure everyone knows what’s happening - which artworks are going where, and what the client actually wants. It's not just logistics; there’s always a story, and Philip likes to know it before each piece leaves the gallery.
Before setting off, Philip makes sure the right items are loaded. Wrapped, padded and secured, he makes sure nothing leaves the gallery until he's happy it will reach its destination safely.
Details are so important. He inspects the packing, carefully loads the order, and checks each strap more than once. We all know that it's this kind of care that means every painting and sculpture arrives looking exactly as it did when it left.
Once he’s on the road, the only constraint on Philip’s travels is the orders in the van. With regular trips to London, Norfolk, and Southampton, he also enjoys visiting new customers, going as far as Scotland on more than one occasion.
Having planned the route himself, Philip uses his driving time to check in with the team back at the gallery - it’s important he doesn’t miss out on anything. Coffee gets Philip through long stretches in the van, and any traffic frustrations are soon forgotten when he reaches the customer at the journey’s end.
"Philip was confident, engaging, and offered practical advice. I'm pleased with the result. He also noticed another picture was hung too low and re-positioned it — it's much better now. If you're unsure about placement or fit, I highly recommend the Concierge service, it's well worth the investment."
This is where Philip's experience really stands out. Able to understand a space, its use, its light and what the client is looking for, he won't leave a room until everything is right - even if that means repositioning something that was already hung before he got there.
When he visited a client's new home in Norfolk, they told us Philip’s eye for unexpected spaces made all the difference: a shallow spot above a fireplace became a focal point, and a single sculpture by the front door set the tone for the whole house. You can read more about that transformation here.
There are often these stories. Visiting your space, Philip is able to find - and reach - spots that many of us would miss. This job hanging three pieces together on an awkward staircase was complicated enough without the family's two dogs supervising from the bottom of the ladder. It’s a good job Philip knows what he’s doing.
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