Surf Wood for Good

To the Lighthouse
"When I was asked to highlight the damage caused by bodyboards, I chose Gwithian as my location. Growing up in Cornwall, I spent endless days, sunrises, and sunsets on Gwithian beach, swimming and walking my four-legged friend. I have also spent endless hours picking up both tiny pieces and great chunks of polystyrene from the sand, dunes, rock pools and shoreline, a result of a product not fit for purpose that leaves a trail of destruction for our marine and wildlife. This original BISH piece, To the Lighthouse, has been created entirely from plastic pollution that I have picked up along the coastline of Gwithian, Godrevy, Hayle, and St Ives. 

All the materials used are rub-BISH, which I have collected, (look closely, you will see polystyrene, rope, tennis balls, food packaging etc.), cleaned and gradually built up and layered into one final, textured statement piece. My work takes months of layering and is a process that involves patience, meticulousness, and passion for the work I create. All my original pieces are professionally digitalised for limited edition prints. The frames for all my original artwork are handmade using upcycled wood by my friend, Kevin Meagor. Godrevy Lighthouse was built to warn passing vessels of the stones reef, which stretches from Godrevy Island in the direction of St Ives. Lighthouses are a symbol of hope and security, and I intended to represent this in my piece for this auction. I hope that through the actions of us all working together, we can secure a cleaner future for us and generations to follow. I am trying to create something that people want to look at, based on something we too often look away from."

Artist
Bonnie Steward, based in West Cornwall, creates art from plastic and waste materials that is collected on beach cleans around Cornwall. It’s not surprising that Bonnie never struggles finding materials when beach waste is abundant. Each piece Bonnie creates takes months of layering, a process that involves patience, meticulousness and a pure love for the work she creates. 

“I have beach cleaned for as long as I can remember, creating my first BISH piece at the age of 16 in college, where all my books were dedicated to plastic pollution. I am actively involved in raising awareness and educating individuals/groups, for example, the use of upcycled materials for creative expression. It’s crazy to think that the last plastic bottle you drank from, an experience that lasted just a few minutes will exist for generations to follow. If this continues, all that will remain is a plastic planet, toxicated by harmful chemicals, baren land and dead seas.” 

Bonnie is creating something that people want to look at, based on something we too often look away from. It is hard to acknowledge the damage and destruction that has and continues to be caused, so BISH is Bonnie’s statement. She aims to capture the beauty of wildlife and sea/landscapes, whilst addressing our shared responsibility to protect, restore and sustain them.

Website: https://www.bishart.co.uk/about
Instagram: @https://www.instagram.com/bish_art_/