Growing up in the small fishing town of New Bedford, Massachusetts, Phil Gidley immediately became enamored with the sea. Since childhood, Gidley’s favorite activities included painting and fishing, so it was only natural that he would eventually combine these two loves in a career. Largely self-taught, Gidley initially achieved commercial success by painting boat portraits and waterfront scenes, and almost immediate gained renown for his works. Gidley’s pieces have been exhibited in Boston, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, New York City, and Cape Cod. His hometown New Bedford even commissioned Gidley to produce a series of public paintings.