Green approach to rubbish appears colourfully creative

Works by Bob Swan, which are on show at Kingston Art Gallery, on Humber Street in Hull, are made entirely from reused products, with no glue, clips or Sellotape.

Orange cartons, bases from washing up liquid containers and clips from coathangers have been crafted to create a large work hanging in the doorway.

A curving spiral of plastic and wire makes an elegant piece entitled Seaform Primitive – no one would guess it is given its form by insulating wire left behind by scrap metal thieves once they have removed the valuable copper. A Services Repair MOT sign, found dumped in the city, is cunningly converted into one announcing: “Trash Art Here.”

Mr Swan, whose show attracted more than 700 visitors during the recent Humber Street Sesh, said: “I think people are getting spoilt. Because of affluence items are getting more expensive, but because they have been given for free, they are more worthless for the people who receive them.

“To me plastic is far too valuable to dump. Once it is an empty container it has still got a use.”

The show is open Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 4pm, until the Bank Holiday weekend, including Monday August 27.