For more than twenty years Newton Bishop has created beautiful residential stone walls and unique sandstone sculptures easily recognised on many Northern Beaches properties and as important features in parks, playgrounds and commercial developments in Sydney, greater NSW, and as far as the Northern Territory.
How did you become interested and learn about stone masonry and stone sculpture?
Working with stone was part of my TAFE Landscaping course but travelling overseas soon after graduation and seeing Portugal’s amazing sandstone cathedrals and associated sculptures, convinced me that that was what I wanted to do. Then, always interested in landscaping and distinctive gardening, I met Chris Bennetts whose creativity with Japanese and Indonesian artistic gardens, which was very popular at the time, inspired my interest in wanting to do stone sculpture. Chris took me on, showed me the way, and I worked with him for 16 years.
What do you see when you look at a big piece of stone?
For major pieces I go and select the stone that I like directly from the quarry. I first have to carefully examine its shape, colours and grain, and visualise the final object I intend it to become. I then work out the proportions and look for cracks, or irregularities and determine if it is potentially the right fit for the subject matter. This takes time because it turns out that many are unsuitable.
Once selected, I cut the overall shape out roughly so as to discover any flaws in the stone early. Then, before I get so far into the project that I might have to start again, I either adjust for them, or else select another piece of stone.
Can it be the other way, the piece of stone is better than you expected, and it just has the right grain and colours?
I plan the round shapes for all those beautiful spirals and circles, yet variations of colour are uncertain but happily sometimes, yes, they turn out better than expected.
Is there a certain project or sandstone artwork that you are most proud of?
I have many favourites but the signs we did on each entrance to the Palm Beach Governor Phillip Park were the biggest and most detailed signs we had ever done, and they are still there twenty years later, and still look fantastic. And I am proud of another I just did last year that was different – the Midget Farrelly Memorial, a ‘relief’ cut into the black rock close by to those signs above.
What are the biggest challenges with creative stonework?
I’ve first got to design the subject matter and then get the right stone. Then, when doing the whole piece, I will sometimes make a mistake, after which the challenge is correcting it without compromising the project’s ambition and still get through the entire process successfully.
What should readers know if they are thinking about adding stonework to their home or business premises or a sculptural object?
Sandstone appeals because it is a natural product in the Sydney region. It is appropriate to be used as a big impact sculpture focal point; a wall or structural component; paving or other complements to the landscape of one’s garden.
What’s next for Newton Stone Design?
I love working on Northern Beaches properties because owners have good creative vision and appreciate quality design. I am pleased with my many play-ground sculptural installations here, but I want to expand and offer my expertise to greater Sydney and regional councils throughout NSW.
Want to know more?
To learn more or commission a sculpture, visit newtonstonedesign.com
Call 0413 972 990 or email newtonstonedesign@gmail.com