Welcome to Brighton People, a new series from We Love Brighton celebrating the brilliant individuals, organisations, and businesses that make our city shine. Meet Sammie Aplin, a nurse from Devon, who lives in Brighton and makes art under the name The Plastic Coast.
What is The Plastic Coast for anyone who doesn’t know?
The Plastic Coast is my Instagram handle and artist name for all my beach cleaning and art related moments in life. I grew up around the Jurassic Coast so it’s a play on that. I am lucky enough that my commute is a 40 minute walk along the seafront, so I incorporate a beach clean most mornings. I recycle what I can but anything colourful I keep back. This plastic then gets washed and stored until I have enough to create a collage, usually in the rainbow colours, highlighting the objects I’ve found on the beach.
Who are you and what is your connection to Brighton?
My name is Sammie and I moved to Brighton 12 years ago (following the boyfriend who is now the husband). Before that I lived in Devon. I started working at the hospital as a Healthcare Assistant when I moved up here and I’m now about to begin a Masters course to become an Advanced Clinical Practitioner. I love my role as a nurse, but sometimes it can be stressful and I find beach cleaning a way to manage this.
What is the story of The Plastic Coast?
I’ve always been incredibly lucky to have lived near the sea and have grown up heading to the beach for the day to rock pool, swim or mess around on some form of watercraft . As I’ve grown older I feel it’s my responsibility to keep this part of nature as clean as possible, almost as a thank you for all the amazing times I’ve had on the beach or in the sea.
During the Covid Pandemic is when I started my Instagram page, documenting my beach cleaning finds and it slowly became a routine. I think because I was working as a nurse it became a bit of a switch off / meditation hobby, and it’s stuck with me.
The art side came a bit later. I was inspired by artists using waste as a resource (flip flops into animal sculptures, glass into bricks, skateboards into knives, microplastics into colour wheels and aluminium cans into mosaics as examples). I thought I’d give it a go!
My sister-in-law posted my first piece on a local Facebook page and it took off! That was five years ago. Since then my art has definitely evolved. I’ve got a new logo, I get my artwork framed professionally and I’ve got a great community behind me including the support from Leave No Trace Brighton (who I donate percentages of my art sales too) and my Instagram followers, who even send me plastic they’ve found!
What have you been up to and what’s coming up with this project?
It feels like a really exciting time for me. Last year I Won the People’s Choice award for the Sussex Contemporary. I currently have a piece in the Atelier Open Art Call on the seafront, which is such a great spot and gallery (the show is on until September so there’s time to head down and see lovely pieces by so many different artists). I’ve also had Simon Squibb reshare my story and give me some advice on what to do next.
I’ve got a couple of big commissions on the go, which I love doing. I try to get to know the customer and bring in pieces of plastic they can relate too – important letters or numbers, or favourite animals.
So far I’ve donated £670 to beach cleaning groups through sales of my art. I really want to reach the £1000 mark.
It’s hard to get the balance of work, art and general life right sometimes, and this year I’ve had to turn down a few opportunities, but I’ve learnt it’s okay not to take on everything and to remember to enjoy the journey and see where it takes you.
What do you love about Brighton?
I have loved living in Brighton, it’s opened up lots of opportunities for me and I always think I’m so lucky to live where so many people holiday. We are so lucky to live by the beach and the South Downs – such incredible places to enjoy nature! Can you believe a humpback whale was even spotted a few months back?
Anything else you want to share?
I love the connection that the beach community has! I’ve met so many people through beach cleaning and I really feel it’s so beneficial for my mental health. Every beach clean brings out my inner child and I feel like I’m going on a treasure hunt. Also, you feel good for keeping your part of the world looked after. You’re out in nature and I’ve seen some amazing things out beach cleaning, the beautiful starlings, incredible sunrises, even seals pop up and say hello. So I recommend it to anyone, it gets very addictive! If you’re unsure, start by joining an organised clean, with groups like Leave No Trace Brighton or Surfers Against Sewage as they will have all the equipment and lots of handy information.
The Plastic Coast: Instagram
Brighton People: Ecstatic Dance Brighton
