Brighton Nurse Turns Beach Plastic Into Art To Tackle Coastal Pollution

(c) University of Brighton

A Brighton nurse is helping tackle the growing problem of plastic pollution along Sussex's coastline by transforming rubbish collected from beaches into artwork.

Sammie Aplin, an NHS nurse and advanced clinical practice student at the University of Brighton, began collecting plastic waste from the shoreline in 2020 while walking to work.

Rather than sending the discarded material to landfill, she started incorporating it into handmade artworks, giving the waste a new purpose and raising awareness of the environmental impact of plastic pollution.

What began as a personal project has since grown into a successful side business.

Through her Instagram page, The Plastic Coast, Sammie has attracted thousands of followers and now has a waiting list of customers hoping to purchase her bespoke creations.

Speaking about the project, Sammie said seeing the amount of plastic washing up on beaches can be alarming, but believes her artwork helps people connect with the issue in a positive way.

(c) University of Brighton

She said giving discarded plastic a second life through art encourages people to think about the waste they produce and the impact it has on the environment.

Her efforts have been praised by Coral Evans, founder of environmental group Leave No Trace Brighton.

The organisation works to protect and preserve Brighton's seafront and says it removed more than 800kg of waste from the city's beaches during 2025, with the majority being plastic and other recyclable materials.

Coral said plastic pollution remains a significant issue, particularly during periods of warm weather when visitor numbers increase.

She warned that smaller pieces of plastic can be especially harmful because they are often mistaken for food by marine life and can eventually break down into microplastics.

Leave No Trace Brighton regularly donates unusual or colourful items recovered during beach cleans to Sammie, which she then incorporates into her artwork.

Coral described the pieces as both visually striking and an important way of highlighting the environmental challenges facing the coastline.

The group is encouraging anyone visiting Sussex beaches this summer to dispose of litter responsibly or take it home if bins are full.