It had been my intention to make a beach
combing collection whilst on holiday at the Llyn Peninsula this summer as
I’ve wanted to return to making assemblages as I did nearly 20 years ago.
Even further back at Shave Farm in 1992 I made two small reliefs which I have
always loved and these too were in the back of my mind.
Whilst in Wales I photographed a plastic lobster pot on Criccieth beach. One side
of the lobster pot was ripped open and the netting was broken. I liked that I could see
through the netting and its sculptural qualities which reminded me of Tony
Cragg's sculptures and drawings. I have also made a lot of work based
around a lobster
pot
fisherman who has featured in earlier work (these are two links that lead to
previous posts about that work). I left it on the beach, having too much
else to carry that day, however, when I posted it on Instagram some people
asked if I'd taken home.
The top part of the beach is covered in pieces of plastic, so much of it was washed up on the shore, Alan was horrified and environmentally so was I, but aesthetically I was in my element, the subdued colours and the fact that the pieces were scratched and snarled reminded me of my collage pieces. I picked up some pieces and tried out some small arrangements back at the cottage. 
After a while Alan got fed up and wanted to go, but at least I had managed to fill one of my bags with plastic. I was just about to leave when I spotted the lobster pot sitting at the edge of the sea.
I brought it back home and for now it is sitting in the back garden.
