Philip Jacobs studied printed textiles at Hornsey College of Art from 1973 to 1976. He then worked freelance designing dress fabrics and designs for bedding for the American, Japanese and English markets. He has built up a vast archive of antique textiles and wallpapers from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. The archive is stored in an old converted stable at his home in Dorset and acts as a source of inspiration for new designs.