The family business crafting wall textures that feel alive

Surfaces that catch the light at different angles. Ones that carry depth, character and movement. The types of surfaces that you want to reach out and touch. For Melbourne-based Bishop Master Finishes, creating those surfaces is an art that’s been refined over decades. 

Behind the business is husband and wife duo Eddie and Maryke Bishop, who are continuing what Eddie’s father started all those years ago. 

“Originally John, Eddie’s dad, lived in and grew up in Melbourne. In the ’70s he wanted to explore and he caught a ship over to Canada, and then from Canada to London. And there he stayed because he wanted to be in the scene in London. It was very creative and cool. His job there was as a visual merchandiser and he worked for brands like YSL and Kenzo, creating these incredible, epic fashion shows and shop fronts,” shares Maryke.

When he returned to Melbourne in the early 1980s, there was the question of what to do. He started as a painter, but there was always that creative pull for something more.

He’d seen these types of finishes abroad, but discovered there was very little in the way of decorative surface finishes locally, so he began teaching himself decorative paint effects, marbling and lime washes, before eventually experimenting with Venetian plaster and polished plaster systems. 

“He wasn’t a traditional painter,” says Eddie. “He had a creative eye and wanted to push beyond standard house painting. He really pushed this was the status quo at that time and that energy really connected with designers at the time.”

Today, many textured plaster systems available across the industry are imported from Europe, but John was never content with this. He started developing his products locally, and this has remained the same since. 

“We manufacture everything locally, and almost all the ingredients are sourced in Australia,” says Eddie. “They’re natural mineral-based products with extremely low VOCs and Green Star credentials.”

There’s a science to making every surface finish, whether it’s textured renders, travertine-inspired finishes, earthy stone effects or highly customised decorative surfaces.

“We never really work from a standard colour chart,” explains Maryke. “Designers will often bring us a tile, a timber off-cut or even just a reference image, and we colour-match specifically to that project. It’s not like going to a hardware store and having a machine spit out the formula. Our colour specialist works entirely by hand, she understands how tiny adjustments, like adding a touch or ochre or blue, can completely change the final tone.”

From the mixing of each surface recipe to its application, there’s a personal touch at every stage. “The finish really isn’t in the bucket,” says Maryke. “The finish comes from the person applying it. It’s technique, movement and experience.”

Each applicator is trained specifically in Venetian plaster techniques, with many coming from traditional European plastering backgrounds. “There’s no governing body for Venetian plastering,” explains Eddie. “Anyone can say that they can do it. But these finishes behave very differently to paint. Timing, pressure, technique. All of it matters.” 

The weight of the hand. The way one applicator holds their tools in comparison to others. The rhythm of each sweep. No wall is ever the same as another. 

“You always see the fingerprint of the applicator. Every wall has slight variations and movement, that’s part of what makes it beautiful,” says Maryke. “Texture changes everything. It adds softness, depth and mood in a way flat paint never can.”

Eddie agrees. “The light changes across the surface throughout the day. You’ll walk into a room in the morning and it looks completely different by the afternoon. Paint always looks the same. These finishes feel alive.”

If you’re inspired by brands like Bishop Master Finishes who make their products with intention and bring passion to the way their work transforms Australian interiors, ArchiPro makes it easy to discover their work, products, and build ideas for your own project. Discover the designers, makers and products shaping beautiful interiors across Australia and start a project board to bring your ideas together.