Michelle Costello – Smartie Lids on the Beach - Open Studios

I am a Cornish beach cleaner and I create colourful art from the plastic that I find. My art is conversation starting and thought provoking.

I have lived in Cornwall all my life (so far!) and the plastic left behind after the storms of 2014 changed my life forever. Seeing the strandline covered with such quantities of debris had a significant impact on me.
I now clean beaches all over Cornwall removing large amounts of plastic items and rope that wash up. Amongst the debris on the tideline I often find micro-plastic, lego, soldiers, lost vintage toys and smartie lids. I was once on a beach with two other beach cleaners and we each found a set of false teeth!
I am a treasure hunter and my 20/20 vision helps when scanning the tide line with my husband and our dogs Molly and Merry.
I am hopelessly addicted to beach-combing and am passionate about wildlife and preserving their habitats. From this came a desire to take the plastic I find and create unique art that will become a talking point in people’s homes which in turn raises awareness of the problem of plastic in our oceans. My aim is to spread the word and each piece I take is one less consumed by our precious marine life.
My creative process involves washing, drying and sorting colourful marine debris in my conservatory before it’s taken to my studio where the creative process begins.
My humble studio is a spare room overlooking our beautiful garden, inspiring me while I work. It is packed with washed and sorted marine debris and little treasures, ready to be transformed into something magical.
With my love of nature, wildlife and the ocean, my art takes on these forms, from penguins to parrots, seed heads to sperm whales and spectacular colour wheels.
Visit me in my studio and take a peek into the world of a marine debris artist.
Michelle Costello
Instagram: @smartie_lids_on_the_beach
Facebook: Smartie lids on the beach
www.smartielidsonthebeach.co.uk