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Mr. Sugden formally studied in Paris under French painter,Arnaud D'Hauterives (winner Grand Prix de Rome). Since graduation from the New York School of Visual Arts and the Paris American Academie des Beaux in Paris, Sugden has made 12 journeys throughout the Himalaya and Tibet creating drawings on location. In 1990, Phil and his wife, Carole Elchert, were awareded grants from the Ohio Joint Projects in the Arts and Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities, to create a PBS presentation and companion book based on their 1998 Cultural Arts Expedition to Tibet. They were the guests of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and completed the project entitled, "White Lotus, An Introduction to Tibetan Culture." In 1991, His Holiness, the Dalai Lama was their guest for two days in the Findlay, Ohio home. Sugden's work has been exhibited in more than 90 solo and 130 group shows in museums and galleries internationally. Phillip's drawings have been published in a full-color exhibit catalog entitled, "Visions from the Fields of Merit; Drawings of Tibet and the Himalayas" The book includes a Forward written by the Dalai Lama.