Philip Napier was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1965. After completing a Fine Art degree in Cornwall, England, he returned to Belfast where he received a M.A. from the University of Ulster in 1989. He is a co-founder of Flax Art Studios in Belfast and was recently awarded the Rome Scholarship (1991). His subject matter often have focuses on issues and images related to Belfast and Ireland in general. His works tended to be sculptural and time-based. Recent exhibitions include: Eat the Day - a solo performance/installation at the Orpheus Gallery, Belfast (1991); Shocks to the System - Social and Political Issues in recent art from the Arts Council of Great Britain Collection national tour (1991-92); New Irish Realities - exhibition and conference at the Ash Gallery, Edinburgh (1991); Other Borders: Six Irish Projects at the Grey Art Gallery in New York (1993); and in October, 1994 Napier was Ireland's Representative at the Sao Paulo Biennale in Brazil.