Phil Sheil was born in North Wales. In 1984 he graduated with a Higher National Diploma in Visual Communication. His professional career began in London, where he worked for three years as an illustrator and designer.
He later emigrated to Canada, where he continued his academic and artistic development. At the University of Calgary, Sheil completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) with distinction, majoring in Painting and Drawing, and later earned a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Painting.
During his time in Canada, Sheil was represented by several prominent international-level galleries, including Verginia Christopher Gallery in Calgary and Bugara Kmet Gallery in Edmonton. As his career developed, he also worked as a mural artist and held numerous solo exhibitions throughout Western and Northern Canada.
His artwork is included in many private, corporate, and public collections across Canada, and he has received several prestigious awards in recognition of his creative achievements.
In 1998, Sheil joined the American University of Sharjah (UAE) as an Assistant Professor. Over the years he was promoted to Associate Professor and later to Senior Lecturer. During his tenure at AUS he has taken on several leadership roles and currently serves as the Director of Foundations, where he teaches creative studio courses such as Drawing, Photography, Design, and Painting.
Education
1993–1995
Master of Fine Arts (MFA), University of Calgary
Double major: Painting and Drawing
1990–1993
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), University of Calgary, with distinction
Double major: Painting and Drawing
1980–1984
Higher National Diploma, NE Wales Institute of Higher Education
Visual Communication
1980–1984
College Diploma, Wrexham College of Art, North Wales, UK
Illustration
