Encaustic on cradled birch board with plastic components (35cmx25cm)
My latest environmental artwork is focused on plastic pollution in our oceans. The problem of 'ghost nets' (abandoned or discarded fishing gear) presenting a major issue for marine life and sea habitats, has now been compounded by disposable face masks finding their way in to our waterways. It's estimated that 1.6billion of these masks have now ended up in our oceans.

Single-use masks are made of polypropylene, and could take up to 450 years to degrade and completely disappear from the environment. Before this,the masks will break down into microplastics that will be ingested by fish and other sea animals ... and ultimately, humans.