Warwick Pascoe bought himself a small sand-blaster while he was working as a graphic designer for the Department of Education in Darwin. On the box it came in was a suggestion that it could be used to 'decorate glass'. Warwick's hobby was airbrush painting, mostly on aquatic themes, so he applied his airbrush skills to sand blasting. The results were interesting enough to encourage further experimentation.

Then one day when Warwick was looking at the play of light through his glass designs, he lit the work through its edge, and the light glowed through the detail of the design, bringing the clarity and depth he had been seeking, and he was hooked.

In his spare time Warwick persevered with this difficult medium. He tried different emulsions and techniques, learning by trial and error. When he sought advice from the manufacturers of the masking agents he used, they brushed him off, telling him what he was doing was impossible. After three years of practice, he had a technique reliable enough to produce beautiful, original glassware.

When Warwick’s contract in Darwin expired, in 1996, he moved to Byron Bay and opened his glass studio, Clearlight Designs, in Acacia Street, where he continued to develop his sand-blasting techniques.

In 2004 he moved the studio to Tasman Way.

If he were not so modest, Warwick Pascoe could now reasonably claim to be the world’s best sand-blasted glass artist. His 200dpi images are about triple the industry standard of detail. His techniques are faster and cheaper than any other, and he has created works of impressive size and artistic complexity. His collaborations with other artisans have taken glass art to a new level.

For years people have wandered into Warwick’s studio in the Arts and Industry Park to ask for directions. As an experienced cartographer, with the Sydney Water Board and NT Mines Department, Warwick saw a challenge, and made a map.

To be a really useful tool, all the businesses in the Park had to be on the map, and Warwick just didn’t have the time to devote the required energy to it. His experience in publishing, for the NT Department of Education, gave him the skills to create the first Pocketguide, but he needed someone to do the ground work.

Sarah Noakes is a people person, a natural networker. She took up the challenge and visited every business in the Estate, as it was then known. Between them, Warwick and Sarah created the first Pocketguide to the Byron Bay Arts and Industry Estate.

The Arts and Industry Park has over 300 businesses. Artists and artisans in workshops and galleries sit beside industrial sites and retail outlets. It is an eclectic and creative mix, and an amazing place to visit. The Pocketguide, with its comprehensive maps, business listing, advertising and advice, made the many wonders of the Park easily accessible to tourists, locals and even those who work here.

The people of Mullumbimby wanted a Pocketguide to their area, so Sarah visited every business there. That 2006 Pocketguide to Mullumbimby was a bit slim to be financially viable, so the next year that guide was extended to cover Brunswick Heads and Ocean Shores. As part of the ‘Road Less Travelled’ promotion, encouraging tourists back to Tweed Valley Way, the guide was extended to Burringbar and Stokers Siding.

With both the Pocketguides to Mullumbimby, and the Arts and Industry Estate, well established, Byron Bay needed a Pocketguide, and Warwick and Sarah needed a hand.

Andrew Menzies had worked with Sarah establishing the Local Exchange and Trading System (LETS), a social barter club, in the early '90s, so she rang him and asked if he wanted to put his networking skills to good use.

Andrew was a multi-skilled (self-confessed) job-hopper. He had worked in most aspects of the automotive and building trades, been a journalist, public servant and psych nurse as well as counselor and production artist. His natural curiosity and fascination with the 'real world' made this an offer he couldn't refuse. Sales, distribution and editorial were his main roles. Then in February, 2009, Andrew's life changed suddenly, when a Canadian tourist in a Commodore appeared around a corner driving on the wrong side of the double line, and drove straight into him. Skyline vs Commodore, and nobody wins. Andrew is out of the wheelchair now and walking a bit. He has been a great support and inspiration to the team, and if he is up to it, might write for us an article on Byron Bay as seen from a wheelchair. Meanwhile, he has our best wishes for recovery, and is, he says, making use of the Therapies Explained section of the 2010 Byron guide.

Pocketguides continues to grow, and we needed a sales and marketing specialist with internet experience and a flair for editorial. Tony Beard joined the team, and his fortnightly newsletter announcing sales specials, exhibitions and good local news was a wonderful addition to the Pocketguide services. The newsletter went out to over 1500 subscribers, until Tony left and Warwick and Sarah were way too busy to take it on. Most of the editorial in the latest Byron guide is from Phil Shayer, and Adri. Phil is also in Sales, with Sasha, and recently Lucas Greenham joined the team, mostly doing production and distribution. 

Pocketguides continues to flourish because we provide what people need, in an easily accessible form. Byron is an unusual place. Forecasts of economic gloom and doom do not apply to this creative and dynamic region. We are optimistic about the future, and working hard to support our community.