Making Photographic Art From Rubbish

Creative passion led to commercial success

Image supplied by Caroline South, with permission

Caroline South is a talented artist from Bognor Regis, West Sussex, UK. She often walks her dog along her local beach, collecting bits of rubbish, which she uses in art. “I guess it’s become habit now,” she says. “If I see a piece of colourful plastic — I’ll pick it up, popping it in my pocket or bag.

“When my children were small, I started a blog. I began photographing natural objects we found on our adventures. I wanted to remember the things we’d found — stones with holes, a patterned feather, and some smooth sea glass reminding me of our day. That’s when I started to notice the plastic on the beach and I started incorporating these colourful finds into my art.”

Image supplied by Caroline South, with permission

“I soon realised what unusual pieces were washing up, such as Lego Lost at Sea. It was 1997 when containers fell from a The Tokyo Express, depositing Lego into the sea. Ironically, these sea-themed pieces of Lego have been floating in the sea ever since.

“I also find vintage cracker toys, connecting beads, and pastel hair roller pins. I’ve definitely noticed an increase in the amount of plastic washing up! I…