ALAN Phillips was born in Melbourne and lived in North Fitzroy for the early part of his life.

He studied industrial design at RMIT and in his mid–twenties moved to the Northern Territory (NT).

When he retired, he lived in Europe for a year.

Alan and his wife Joy bought land in Beechworth where the couple built a house and shifted to the town in late 2003.

What has been your career path and what do you do now?

I am retired now after teaching in the NT and then as the publisher for the NT Department of Education.

I spent 30 years in the NT.

I worked with remote Aboriginal students in Central Australia before moving to Darwin and still keep in contact with some of the communities.

I also owned a small printing company in Alice Springs and operated two motels.

After retiring in 2002, I took up painting full–time and travelled extensively.

I still visit the desert regions and paint the landscape.

I am now cataloguing my vast collection of photographs which will be published in five volumes next year.

I have donated a large part of my collection to the Strehlow Foundation in Alice Springs.

The foundation manages one of Australia's most important collections of film, sound, archival records and museum objects relating to Indigenous ceremonial life.

What did you love about teaching, being in business and now love about being an artist?

Teaching Aboriginal children has been a highlight of my life.

I have learnt so much from those desert kids, especially combining desert knowledge with the spirituality of the land.

Mixing business with teaching was difficult but I had good people working for me.

Ever since I can remember I wanted to be an artist.

I exhibited my first painting at the age of 13 at the Melbourne Herald Outdoor Art Show.

I have always painted and have since had 49 solo and joint exhibitions.

What do you do in the community?

I was active in Landcare for many years and in the Beechworth Arts Council.

I was also captain of the Myrtleford Golf Club.

I am an active member of 'Land for Wildlife' and a keen birdwatcher.

What's the most important current community issue for you?

Heritage issues seem to generate much controversy.

Just because something was built in the 19–20th century does not and should not dictate our aesthetics forever.

What would you do to solve, change or improve that situation?

Respectful discussion is needed rather than shouty letters to the editor of the local newspaper.

What's the most important current world issue for you?

I see corruption and lack of transparency a major impediment to good governance.

It affects all tiers of government not only in Australia but worldwide.

Recent examples have shown how widespread it is in Australia from federal, state and local.

We all pay for it in the end.

If the person you would most like to meet came to Indigo, or was already here, who would that be and what would you show them?

Eugene von Guerard, an early Australian painter who painted Mt Kosciusko in 1863.

It would be interesting to show him how the landscape has changed from his romantic vision from 153 years ago.

What book are you reading?

'Princes of the Renaissance' by Mary Hollingsworth.

She discusses the powers behind the artistic revolution in Florence during the 15–16th century.

Also 'Revelations' – the biography of the British painter Francis Bacon by Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swan.

Alan's artwork can be found at www.alanphillipsart.com.