Tom Phillips was born in Adelaide, South Australia. He enrolled at the Adelaide Central School of Art in 1992, He gained his Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts in 1997. Recent solo exhibitions include The Urban Jungle, Barossa Regional Gallery, Tanunda (2022); Another Day, Another Lonely Night, The Main Gallery, Adelaide (2021); Dystopia, Broken Hill Regional Gallery, Broken Hill (2019); Suburban Castaway, Praxis Artspace, Bowden (2018); Between the Clock and Bed, Bosz Gallery, Brisbane (2016). He was selected as a finalist in the Fleurieu Art Prize (2018); The Advertiser Contemporary Art Prize, SALA Festival (2017, 2015, 2014); Kilgour Prize, Newcastle Art Gallery (2017, 2015, 2014); Naked and Nude Art Prize, Manning Regional Art Gallery (2015, 2013, 2011); Muswellbrook Art Prize (2017, 2011); Whyalla Art Prize (2017, 2015, 2013, 2011). In 2021 Phillips won the Don Dunstan Foundation Award through the SALA festival. In 2022 Phillips received the Guildhouse Followship