Renowned visionary artist Bonnie Steward has garnered attention for her artwork, which involves transforming plastic pollution from beach cleans into original pieces. As the Founder and Creator of BISH ART, located in the scenic landscapes of Southwest Cornwall, UK, Bonnie continues to captivate audiences while raising awareness of this critical issue. Her creative process involves frequent beach cleans, skilfully integrating the collected plastic pollution into her artwork to depict the very location from which it was gathered. Through her art, Bonnie Steward shines a spotlight on the pressing issue of plastic pollution, captivating and educating audiences with her poignant and visually striking creations.

Bonnie Steward collects plastic waste on beach cleans and uses the materials to create intricate collages that depict the location. Bonnie’s artwork resembles a complex tapestry of layered plastic waste, including crisp packets, fishing net, plastic wrappers, toothbrushes, and tennis balls. She works on a large scale, with many of her pieces measuring over one metre. The 25-year-old collects the rubbish, cleans it, and then arranges and layers it in a time- consuming process that can take up to a year to complete.

Bonnie, otherwise known as BISH Art, takes inspiration from the beautiful coastlines of West Cornwall, and her work includes Cornish landmarks e.g., St Michael’s Mount and Wheal Prosper Tin Mine, as well as wildlife (seals, starfish, and birds). She added ‘my work is all about creating something people want to look at, based on something we too often look away from’. For Bonnie, recreating the beautiful landscapes that surround her out of the plastic waste responsible for destroying them is all part of her creative process and message. ‘I aim to capture the beauty of wildlife, the sea and landscapes, whilst addressing our shared responsibility to protect, restore, and sustain them’.

Bonnie’s artwork could be mistaken for a painting from a distance, and it is only when people take a closer look that they are able to see the hundreds of different elements that make up a single piece. She added ‘people are often surprised to learn that my work has been created entirely from rubbish. Often, I will leave in words or logos because people love spotting wrappers that they recognise. It’s ironic that I’m creating a time capsule, whilst highlighting the terrifying truth that these plastics remain in our oceans for thousands of years’.

Bonnie, who lives near Porthleven, said that she has beach cleaned for as long as she can remember. ‘My parents used to own a pub, and growing up I would use discarded waste materials to create collages and sculptures. I used to create collages from bottle tops and mosaics from damaged tiles and bits of glass’. Bonnie was just 16 when she created her first BISH ART piece of Porthleven Clocktower, and all of her school and college books are dedicated to plastic pollution. After completing her studies, Bonnie went onto work with young people and community groups, organising workshops and beach cleans. Bonnie recently worked at a festival in collaboration with Fat Face, demonstrating her artwork. Bonnie has also exhibited alongside accomplished artists, such as Kurt Jackson.

Bonnie’s process involves patience, meticulousness, passion, and she describes it as ‘a bit like a puzzle that will gradually come together. You never know exactly what will have washed up on the beach, but that’s all part of the challenge’.