Many of Carol’s textile art pictures have driftwood frames.

We find the wood locally here on Dorset beaches and also wherever else we find ourselves on the coast. Big storms = big finds, some of them far too large to drag off the beach and get into the car.

However, some nice blue pallets arrive from time to time. Sad but useful are the parts of boats that get washed up as well.

I try to use only solid wood in the frames. Any parts left over go to …

… sculptures. Rather than burn the end bits, I make fish and other sculptures from them. Anything else we find might have a use too. I have made a playhouse, cupboards, shelf units, Christmas trees, fences, gates and even a shop sign from driftwood. Virtually all the hardware (screws, fixings, etc.) are recycled.

Seaglass is another good material – this time for tiny boat pictures.

The trick to all this is coming back with the right stuff and this means envisaging what can be used while on the beach. Great in the summer, but that’s not when the storms come.

My paid job was as a Psychology teacher and, a few years ago on Mudeford sandspit, I found half a plastic brain!

Each piece on the beach is a one-off.

Neil's site is here.