Burton Phillips, a polymath with degrees in languages and law, began painting after his move to Taos in 1958. He heard about Taos from Henry Sauerwein, then director of the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico. While there, he studied under the guidance of Taos modernist painter Earl Stroh, who became his friend, mentor, and partner. Phillips discovered an inherent internal color sense, and his paintings evolved into mosaic-like studies in color relationships. The pictures are tautly controlled and mathematically complex yet project a lyrical sensuality.

Two galleries represented the artist: Hunter Meek Gallery and Gallery A in Taos. Burton had only two solo shows, one at the Johnson Gallery at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and one at the Taos location. Earl Stroh donated his works at his death to the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, which shares the estate with the Albuquerque Museum. (cf: "Taos Modern - Postwar Abstract", the catalogue of an exhibition held at the Canfield Gallery in Santa Fe in 2001, p. 32).  Burton's works are also included in the book "Modernists in Taos from Dasburg to Martin" by author David Witt.