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.

Burton Phillips was represented by Hunter Meek Gallery and then Gallery A in Taos. Burton had only two solo shows, at the Johnson Gallery at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, and in Taos. His works were donated at his death by Earl Stroh to the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, who is sharing them 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.