Spotlight on Jay McPhillips, 2025 Signature Image Artist at Phillips’ Mill
Jay McPhillips, the 2025 Signature Image Artist for the 96th Annual Juried Art Show at Phillips’ Mill, is a former graphic designer at Comedy Central, New York City ad agency art director and self-described “working man’s artist” who likes “making stuff” that reflects the personality of the local shops, restaurants and attractions he has frequented and the places he has lived. And there are many.
His paintings capture the unique charm of familiar locations across the region and beyond, from the County Theater in Doylestown to Small World Coffee in Princeton, the Swan Bar in Lambertville to our beloved Phillips’ Mill in New Hope. It was only natural that he would paint the Mill, a place so steeped in the history of the Pennsylvania Impressionists.
“When I first started painting, I was greatly influenced by the work of the Pennsylvania Impressionists, and I have stuck to that. It is such an honor to be recognized for my image of the Phillips’ Mill, the very place, the creative hub, for such icons as William Langson Lathrop, Fern Coppedge and Daniel Garber.”
Jay’s journey began in a more corporate setting—as an art director in top New York City advertising agencies. There, he worked on major accounts like Coca-Cola, crafting visual campaigns for global audiences. A former staffer for Comedy Central, McPhillips also designed print ads for some of the network’s most recognizable shows. He later worked as the graphic designer for McCarter Theatre in Princeton, NJ, a position that introduced him to the world of theater and performance. Over the years, he lived and worked and found inspiration in such vibrant creative towns as Boothbay Harbor, ME, Portsmouth, NH, Portland, ME, and Portland, OR. He also studied at the Maine College of Art, designed newspaper advertising, and even tried his hand at comedy writing.
For the past decade, Jay has earned a living designing, painting and selling his work throughout the region. Whether in galleries, shops, art shows or online, McPhillips brings a bold yet approachable energy to the world of contemporary painting.
His years in Bucks County, however, have had the most lasting impact—thanks in large part to the deep roots of Pennsylvania Impressionism in the region. Inspired by the likes of Edward Redfield and Fern Coppedge, McPhillips blends tradition with originality, infusing his works with bold color, warmth and often a touch of humor.
His process is refreshingly direct—drawing from life or photographs, painting what moves him. Construction sites, small-town shops, neighborhood cafés—they all find a place in his vibrant compositions. “Here is some beauty,” he says. “Here is something pleasant.” That philosophy is evident in his screenprints, original paintings and affordable poster art (available for as little as $20), all of which have earned him a dedicated following.
Today, you can find McPhillips’ work at local galleries, as well as popular gift and decor shops including Homestead Princeton, A Mano Galleries in Lambertville, Monkey’s Uncle in Doylestown, and the Doylestown Bookshop. He continues to take commissions, often from Bucks County, and sells work independently online.
For inquiries, he can be reached at MrJamesMcPhillips@gmail.com.
With his signature mix of skill, storytelling and irreverent charm, Jay McPhillips’ art work celebrates both place and personality.