Philip was born in the East End of London where he still lives and works. He studied painting at St Martin’s School of Art and his work has been exhibited throughout Europe and Japan. As well as three books for adults – and the highly acclaimed screenplay for the The Krays feature film - he has written five other adult stage plays: The Pitchfork Disney, the multiaward-winning The Fastest Clock in the Universe, Ghost from a Perfect Place, Vincent River, and the highly controversial Mercury Fur, plus a further five plays for young people ; Karamazoo, Fairytaleheart, Moonfleece, Sparkleshark and Brokenville. He has also directed two films from his own screenplays: The Reflecting Skin – winner of eleven international awards – and The Passion of Darkly Noon (winner of the Best Director Prize at the Porto Film Festival). Philip has also written many books for children including Scribbleboy (shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal), Kasper in the Glitter(nominated for the Whitbread Prize), Mighty Fizz Chilla (shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award), ZinderZunder, Vinegar Street, Zips’Apollo and Krindlekrax (winner of both the Smarties Prize and WH Smith’s Mind-Boggling Books Award), the stage play of which – adapted by Philip himself – was premiered at the Birmingham Rep Theatre in the summer of 2002. Philip has won both the Evening Standard’s Most Promising Newcomer to British Film and Most Promising Playwright Awards. The only person ever to receive both prizes.