Roger Phillips: A Renaissance Talent and Foraging Pioneer Remembered
Roger Phillips, the multifaceted artist, photographer, and author, followed a creative journey marked by unpredictable and diverse pursuits. His insatiable curiosity and boundless energy earned him a reputation as a media-savvy mycologist, often referred to as a “David Attenborough of the mushroom,” and as a leading figure in the modern foraging movement.
Phillips authored more than 40 books, each distinguished by their minimalist design and striking imagery. His meticulous color photographs, set against clean white backgrounds, evoked the spirit of Victorian naturalists’ pressed specimens. These publications became a staple in gardening households across the UK, cementing his legacy in a green-fingered nation.
In the late 1960s, Phillips became a friend of my family while working as a food photographer, producing stunning images of fresh produce and elegant meals for magazines and partworks. Before this, he made his mark in advertising as art director at Ogilvy & Mather, contributing to iconic campaigns such as Schweppes’ “Schhh . . . you know who” and the Egg Marketing Board’s “Go to Work on an Egg.”
Phillips’ artistic talents extended to the music industry, where his friend, illustrator Alan Aldridge, commissioned him to photograph the rock band Cream for their album Goodbye. This collaboration sparked a friendship with bassist Jack Bruce, leading to Phillips creating the album artwork for Bruce’s Songs for a Tailor and Out of the Storm.
Roger Phillips leaves behind a legacy of creativity, curiosity, and influence that continues to inspire across disciplines.
