b'in the cangetting established in the industry. Last year,me under his wing. He pushes my boundaries of Bryce joined the business full-time as a partneropen and creative thinking.Risingand he and Mark collaborated on a full rebrandOthertimes,itsthepaintsandproducts togetherand theyve never looked back.themselves that can offer up ideas for creativity. surface Hes got a big heart, says Mark. We workMarksaysResenePendragonandResene fantastically well together, motivating one anotherTussock are among his favourite hues at the to the and pushing each other to reach new limits. moment. We are currently using these colours Today,theirbusinessisknownasSurfaceon a concrete slab ceiling with our friends at but the skills and value they bring to theirWarren and Mahoney.projectsgoesfardeeper.MorethanjustI love working with Resene. They have an all-contractors and applicators, theyre designersaround great company culture, and there is always andartistsintheirownrightandcreatesomeone who will put their hand up to help.customisedfitouts,specialisedpainteffects,With his energy and eye for design, its clear textured surfaces and more for a wide range ofthat Mark has a long and exciting career ahead clients and project typologies. of himbut he already has very sage advice to Marksayshisfavouriteprojectstoworkoffer for those who might be just getting started Armed with an artistic eye, Mark Lowther transformson are hospitality interiors and creative officein the industry.big ideas into a unique contracting business. spaces. Its our niche. Projects that bring outWalk in every room as yourself. Never dim emotionswithinyouthroughboldcoloursyour own light for anyone.T here are plenty of people in this world whoAuckland. It was a space where our imaginationandfixturesarewhatmotivateme.OneofAndifyou,likeMark,arefilledwithbig are too afraid to chase their dreams. Markflourished, he says. his most memorable builds to date was whenideas, dont forget to slow down once in a while. Lowther is not one of them. HeattemptedafewotherdifferentSurfaceworkedasthemaincontractoronSomething I do wish I did more often was to At 26-years-old, the South Auckland nativebusinesseswithfriends,too.SomeworkedWatdaDumplingsinPonsonbyCentralwithstop and smell the roses. Im a wishful thinker, wasbroughtupwithahugeinterestintheout and some didnt, but Mark says he reallyWondergroup, as Mark really enjoyed workingwhich has its pros and cons! creative arts. I have family in the Philippinesfell in love with the process. Even when thingswith their creative team. Another highlight was whom I look up to, and they develop, design anddidntpanoutasplanned,hestilllearnedathespecialisedpaintinghisteamcompletedTo see more of Surfaces superb creative builds and buildapartments. Growinguparoundthemgreatdealfromtestingouthisideas.Fourfor Microsoft Wellington, which incorporatedspecialised finishes, visit www.surface.nz. motivatedmetogetintotheconstructionyears ago, Mark set his sights on becoming aResene metallic paints and textured products industry, and I am trying to start from the sameprime contractor. However, he wanted to findfromtheReseneConstructionSystems Rockcote range. Resenefoundation as they did. a way into the building industry where he couldAs Surfaces business continues to develop,PendragonMark moved to Japan when he was 19, andcontinueworkingwithhisgenuinepassionMark looks forward to an opportunity to be the during his time there, he developed an immensefor paint and creating art. This idea led to theleadcontractoronaprojectthataimstobemaster listinterest in the cutting-edge fashion influencescreation of Lowther Interiors, a business thatcarbon negative. Using the materials that are out ofTokyosHarajukudistrict.Thisledmetohas been doing just that. there in the industry that are made with upcycledWhen Mark needs to regroup, he uses start a design and screen-printing studio when IMarkslong-timemateBryceJamison,amaterialslikesaveBOARD,recycledtimberabove top: Resene golds and greys applied by Marks team bring a flair of colourResene this handy list of motivational reminders moved back home. We had a small studio with aqualifiedquantitysurveyor,hadbeenhelpingand Resenes range of environmentally-friendlyand complement industrial-style details in Aurecons soon-to-be-completedTussock to get himself back on track:few friends beneath a flower store in Kingsland,sincethebusinesswasinitsearlydaysofproducts? I would love to tick that off the list. office in Newmarket. Ceiling in Resene SpaceCote Flat tinted to ReseneResene Present your workLike many artists, Mark finds it helpful toPendragon, cable tray in Resene Uracryl 403 gloss tinted to Resene Tussock andStack Make the space yourswalls in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Armadillo and Resene Stack.ResenebrowseartworkandprojectscompletedbyDesign by Warren & Mahoney, www.warrenandmahoney.com. Build by SavoryFriar Greystone Maintain your mental healthleft: Watda Dumplings on Ponsonby Road is one of the newest additions toothers on Tumblr and Pinterest when he needsConstruction, www.savory.co.nz. Painting and image by Surface. Resene Enhance your designs and ideasAucklands popular nightlife and shopping strip. Mark and his team created aResene someextrainspiration.IliketospendtimeArmadillo Build your legacyunique look for the walls using Resene Sandtex Mediterranean finish in ReseneQuarterResene tryingtodrawouttheemotionsandstoriesabove bottom: A moody effect was achieved in the bar at Aucklands Voco HotelResene Impress your clientsGrain Brown with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Resene QuarterSorrell Brown with the ceiling in Resene Super Gloss enamel tinted to Resene Fuscous Grey andFuscous GreySorrell Brown. Design by Wondergroup, www.wonder.group. Build and paintingGrain Brown people are trying to tell with their work, he adds.walls in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen tinted to Resene Friar Greystone. DesignShow, dont tellby Surface. Image by Logan West, www.loganwest.co.nz. There is also an artist named Hemi that tookby SJB, www.sjb.com.au. Painting by Surface.36 blackwhitemag.com blackwhitemag.com 37'