Today was something truly special. I had the chance to visit my son's school and talk to his class about my work—particularly how I use beach waste and found materials in my artwork. Let’s just say… the next generation of eco-artists is already bursting with creativity.
We started the morning with something a little grounding—mass, followed by a beach walk. There’s something quite lovely about seeing a group of excited kids combing the shoreline, eyes wide and hands busy collecting plastic scraps, shells, and all sorts of unusual bits and pieces. They saw treasure where others might see rubbish, and I couldn’t have been prouder.
After lunch, I shared some of the pieces I’ve made using similar finds—my framed artworks and Beachlings always get a few curious questions! It was lovely to show how waste can be reimagined and transformed into something with character and story.
Then the real fun began: the kids got to create their own fish pictures using the materials we found that morning. No rules, just imagination. They used stones, shells, waste plastic, string, and bits of coloured art paper to bring their underwater creatures to life. The classroom was buzzing with ideas—every fish was completely unique, and each one told its own little story.
We spoke about why it’s so important to keep our beaches clean. About how waste can harm wildlife, but how it can also be used in unexpected, creative ways.
Getting kids involved at a young age is powerful. Today they didn’t just learn about the problem—they became part of the solution. Through hands-on creativity, they found new ways to connect with the natural world and saw the potential in the discarded.
I left the school today feeling inspired and full of hope. If this is the future, we’re in good hands.
You can see their wonderful work in the gallery below.
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