Phil Roberts Surf Artist History

Born: December 10th 1960 Sarasota, Florida
Raised: Melbourne Florida
School: Melbourne High School class of ’78
Pratt Institue, Brooklyn N.Y.C. – BFA Fine Arts – Deans list 3.9 avg
Surfing: Started @ 13 Jacksonville Beach

Surfboards Painted by Phil in the 1980's

1975: Bought my own airbrush and showed my first surf painting at the Indialantic Sidewalk Art show where Dave Carson invited me to work at Mike Tabelings surfboards in Merritt Island where I sprayed my first boards Shortly Afterwards I painted for Dich Catri Surfboards and then later for Donny Mulhern at MTB all through my high school & college.

1978: Graduated Melbourne High – Attended Pratt Inst. in N.Y.C on scholarship

1981: Wave Rider Magazine – Cover Art and Interview, Easy Rider Magazine – Cover Art and Interview – Garry Propper

Wave Rider Magazine Cover Art Phil Roberts

1982: Garry Propper becomes my artist rep

*Sundek Surfwear Ads – Series of 6 double page spreads, illustrations, Ad concepts and artwork execution
*September 1982:Surf Team ad @ Sebastian Inlet – Caricatures for inside Surfer Magazine

Illustrated Cover of Surfer Magazine

*October 1982: Surfer Magazine Cover Illustration – North Shore issue, Double page fold out of MR and Cheyne Horan. 1 of only 4 illustrated covers in the history of “Surfer Magazine”

1983: History of Surfing by Nat Young – Featured Surfer Mag cover art in 1980′s competition chapter *2005 Surfer Mag Special Collectors Edition Issue – reprint cover art

Hot Dog ski movie phil roberts

Detroit Rock City movie poster

*Summer 1983: “Hot Dog- The Ski Movie” first major motion picture poster illustration based off the Surfer Magazine cover. I beat out Jack Davis and Mort Drucker (Artist of Mad Magazine) for the job. Movie set record biggest box office take for a comedy in 1984.

1983 – Present: *Started an over 25 year career as a Movie Poster Illustrator – one of the top 10 Hollywood Poster Designers and Illustrators. (Clients list at the end)

1984: Move to LA via Gary Propper – Live in Gallagher’s North Hollywood house

1982 -present: contributing illustrator to Surfer Mag, Surfing Mag, Surfers Journal, Transworld Surf, Surfin’ Life – Japan, amoung others worldwide specialize in Editorial Caricatures, Future Surf Parks design, Surfer anatomy lessons, Science illustration of surfspots

Illustration Artist for Surfer Mag, Surfing Mag, Surfers Journal

1989: “ the Book of Waves” by Drew Kampion – Illustrated to science chapter on wave creation and swell meeting various shorelines.  Created the visual look for the science of Surfing and Ocean Waves that’s been re-published around the world:

Book of Waves Illustration Phil Roberts

‘91 Natureza mag – Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

’92 Natura Oggi – Milano, Italy

‘92 Encyclopedia of New Sciences – Washington D.C.

’92 National Wildlife Mag – Wasington D.C.

‘93 Mariners Weather Log – Washington D.C.

’93 National University of Meterology – Boulder, Colorado

‘05 Surfin’ Life Mag – Japan

‘05 National Geo Mag – Norway

’05 National Geo Mag –  Russia

1989: Surfing in the Future – Surfer Mag : Concept design and Illustration of an artificial reef project for Dana Point Harbor / Killer Dana inventor Tom Caroll ( not the Australian Pro Surfer ) SurfRider Foundation – Tom Pratt : did the original concept design sketches and  illustration of Pratt’s Reef in El Segundo, CA also intended to be Patagonias Reef – Ivan Chinard Kona Sea Aquarium & Water Park, Kona , Big Island Hawaii Steve Krieger Developer : Concept design and illustration

( my first water park design commission )

* concept drawings

* architecture design

* Water engineering side elevations

1989: Surfing in the Future – Surfer Mag : Concept design and Illustration of an artificial reef project for Dana Point Harbor / Killer Dana inventor Tom Caroll ( not the Australian Pro Surfer)

1989: SurfRider Foundation – Tom Pratt : did the original concept design sketches and  illustration of Pratt’s Reef in El Segundo, CA also intended to be Patagonias Reef – Ivan Chinard

Kona Design Phil Roberts

1989: Kona Sea Aquarium & Water Park, Kona , Big Island Hawaii Steve Krieger Developer : Concept design and illustration ( my first water park design commission )
* concept drawings
* architecture design
* Water engineering side elevations

1990-’03: Icaan Art Gallery, Manhattan Bch. CA – opened my own art gallery

13 years success of $500,000 annual sales

first show Surf Art – Ken Auster, Rick Rietveld, Chris Lundy

1990-’94: Athletic Shoe designer – partnered up with Brent James ( Nike )

* started Guess Athletic – designed the best selling Women’s

running shoe; also designed the best selling Men’s canvas

boot…………. $80 million in sales in 4 years

1982 -’08: contributing illustrator to Surfer Mag, Surfing Mag, Surfers Journal,                     Transworld Surf, Surfin’ Life – Japan, amoung others worldwide  specialize in Editorial Caricatures, Future Surf Parks design,  Surfer anatomy lessons, Science illustration of surfspots

“ The Book of Waves” by Drew Kampion – Illustrated to science  chapter on wave creation and swell meeting various shorelines.   Created the visual look for the science of Surfing and Ocean Waves that’s been re-published around the world:

‘91 Natureza mag – Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
’92 Natura Oggi – Milano, Italy
‘92 Encyclopedia of New Sciences – Washington D.C.  National Wildlife Mag – Wasington D.C.
‘93 Mariners Weather Log – Washington D.C.
’93 National University of Meterology – Boulder, Colorado
‘05 Surfin’ Life Mag – Japan
‘05 National Geo Mag – Norway
’05 National Geo Mag –  Russia

1990-’03: Icaan Art Gallery, Manhattan Bch. CA – opened my own art gallery – 13 years success of $500,000 annual sales first show Surf Art – Ken Auster, Rick Rietveld, Chris Lundy

Shoe Design by Phil Roberts

1990-’94: Athletic Shoe designer – partnered up with Brent James ( Nike ) * started Guess Athletic – designed the best selling Women’s running shoe; also designed the best selling Men’s canvas  boot…………. $80 million in sales in 4 years

National Geographic Illustration for TV series

1993: National Geographic Explorer Series TV “The Men Who Ride Mountains” Art/Science consultant on Surfing Wiamea Bay with a 2’x 9’ painting for the  documentary