The environmental issue is huge, pressing and pretty overwhelming at times, but it was the story behind the items I was finding that intrigued and inspired me to start collecting. I loved guessing at the hands that last touched them and if they were changed beyond recognition or mere fragments of something larger, their former purpose. Every piece had its own past story and journey, whilst some had been weathered by the sea and melted by the sun - sculptured by nature into something beautiful.
I have always loved secondhand things having grown up in a home where many of the items were sourced from antique shops or the dump. I suppose my joy for giving discarded objects a new lease of life derives from this. I relish the idea that these forgotten, unwanted items will have a new home and hopefully be treasured and preserved in a different form for years to come. It also appeals to my sense of humour that disregarded rubbish can then hang pride of place of someone’s wall!
BIO
About me
How did I get here
What inspires me
Much of my childhood was spent roaming the Suffolk coastline scavenging for fossils and other bits of beach debris.
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The prospect of discovering treasure (whether that be a fossilised shark's tooth, an interesting shaped stone or a translucent carnelian) was all too exciting, and that joy for finding things has never left me.
Over a decade ago, whilst on holiday in Majorca, I noticed lots of brightly coloured shards of plastic washed up on the beach. I saw creative potential in them and filling my pockets I took them home to drill, making a rather rustic looking necklace. Needless to say I never ended up wearing it, but there birthed an idea that would take me on an ever changing journey littered (literally) with surprises.
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I started by making more jewellery from pieces of beach -combed plastic, which I sold in various London markets and shops. But as my curiosity and hunger for the project grew I began picking up more washed up items, I progressed into making art pieces. I have also had the pleasure of running art workshops based on my flotsam and jetsam creations.