Makers of Park City: David Cornwell

Art by David Cornwell. Photo: Neighbors of Park City

PARK CITY, Utah. — High up on the mountain in Pinebrook, David Cornwell finally has the studio he has been waiting for. It is not large, but it has gorgeous views of the Park City landscape and in the evening you might see light shining out of the windows when he is sawing and mounting rock on what he calls stained glass art out of stone.

David Cornwell started Cornwell Stone Art in 2010 after discovering that there was marble that looked like the skin of a trout. He had been a stained-glass artist before that, having grown up on the East Coast in an old house with lead glass windows. As an avid fisherman, he loves creating art pieces depicting fish. In fact, his favorite is a piece depicting two fish. His other themes highlight Utah landscapes and wildlife, including the occasional skier.

Towards the end of his career as a dentist, he commuted from Park City to Massachusetts until it was time to concentrate on his art. Starting from a photograph or image he wants to recreate out of stone, he decides, which sections of the image, should be individual pieces. Once these are outlined, he finds the appropriate stone for his art piece. He used to be able to visit the local tile shop and find stone pieces that matched his ideas for the pieces but these days he is forced to order his rock online. Another recent change is the type of frame he uses for his stone art.

His original pieces have wooden frames, but his newer pieces all have metal frames. Since the art is mounted on cement boards, David Cornwell’s art is now appropriate for hanging indoors as well as outdoors. Many of the patterned stones he uses for animals are polished marble, so they glitter and change in the light from one side to the other.

David Cornwell sells his art at art fairs, starting each year with the St. George Art Festival in April. Most pieces take about a month to complete. He’s available for custom designs. Learn more at Cornwell Stone Art.

Words by Kierstin Kohlwey on behalf of Neighbors of Park City.