Using waste materials is integral to my practice. I predominantly use materials that would otherwise be thrown away, I find discarded, or already own. I consider this a stance against consumerism, the associated waste and impact on non-human life and the natural Earth.

Always keen to use what I already owned, my waste use accellerated in 2023.  I started to experiment with plastic milk cartons and soon found them incredibly versatile - easy to cut, fold, stitch and manipulate, leading to my Milk Wood body of work. I continued to experiment, using my iron to melt and fuse soft plastics for 2024's Encapsulate,and then a range of materials and techniques for The Four Elements  (2024) and Discovered (2025).

In 2025, I chose to focus on waste for my Creative Arts degree's critical review.  My research into the associated environmental problems and the innovative ways artists highlight these issues through their use of plastics, textiles and discarded objects has inspired me to push things further.  I aim to continue to find new ways to utilise plastic and textiles waste and to share information about how harmful our over consumption is for the Planet. 

I am increasingly finding different ways of working with waste, there are multiple creative advantages.  Using something that is free and plentiful is liberating and encourages my experimentation – if it starts out as rubbish it’s hard to make it worse. I often wonder why artists wouldn’t want to use these free, versatile materials, especially with the associated environmental benefits. I am keen to share what I have learnt through workshops and networking.

I am discovering more and more artists using waste materials in different ways.  Some only use waste, some incorporate it into their practice alongside other materials.  They have different reasons for using it but all are removing materials from the waste stream. Check out the links for some inspirational, beautiful and innovative artworks that elevate the unwanted.

Aurora Robson 

Charity Ridpath

Francesca Busca

Jessica den Hartog

Liz Miller

Mbongeni Buthelezi

Natayla Khorover

Patrick Tagoe-Turkson

Rachael Wellisch

Swapna Namboodiri

Theda Sandiford

Vanessa Barragão

Yin Xiuzhen

I have featured artists using plastics and textiles, items discarded in the landscape or those destined for landfill.  These are the most problematic for the planet. Although the removal of other materials can still have environmental benefits, metal, paper and glass are more often and more easily recycled - more info here, here and here

Book recommendations and links to articles I have found interesing or useful when learning about the impact of waste.

Wasteland - Oliver Franklin-Wallis - well written and informative book about waste and waste disposal, with in-depth looks at what actually happens to our rubbish.

What if We Stopped Pretending - Jonathan Franzen - originally published in the New Yorker in 2019.  Not a light read but worthwhile, read to the end as, although the introductory paragraphs wouldn't suggest it, the article's essence is of hope. 

United Nations - In Images - Plastic is Forever - photographs and facts around the long lasting impact of plastics.  For example - did you know it is estimated that human's ingest a credit card sized amount of plastic each week?

Beyond an Age of Waste - United Nations Environment Programme - summary of report into issues and UN advised solutions around municipal solid waste.

The Big Plastic Count - UK initiative encouraging households, schools and organisations to count a week's worth of plastic waste, showing individual impact and gathering data.

Waste - a Human Problem - article on the topic that I wrote for my Creative Arts blog. References list at end for further reading suggestions.