Philip Vandyke Browne was a landscape, sporting and still life painter in oils and watercolour. His landscapes were principally of the Shrewsbury area, Wales and Holland.

Browne was drawing master at Shrewsbury School, appointed by the headmaster Samuel Butler FRS (1774–1839), Bishop of Lichfield. Browne apparently accompanied Butler driving around the archdeaconry of Derby during two successive summers, and 'sketched every church at his desire'. Butler's grandson, Samuel Butler (1835–1902), attended the school and his artistic talents were nurtured by Browne—Samuel went on to become the noted author of the novel Erewhon, as well as an artist.

It is thought that Browne would also have taught drawing to the young Charles Darwin at Shrewsbury School, who studied there from 1818.

Browne exhibited seventy works at the Royal Academy. His works can now be found in the Shropshire Archives.