A MURAL made up of 27,000 pieces of plastic collected from East Lothian beaches is being planned to highlight the rising levels of marine waste on Scotland’s coastline.

The art piece will be located on an eight-metre stretch of the harbour wall near the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick and will depict a beach scene and the Bass Rock, alongside an interpretation board that explains the meaning behind the artwork.

The educational mural will be designed by Julie Barnes, an artist from Aberlady, and will be created in connection with North Berwick Harbour Trust and local businesses Jerba Campervans and Caledonia Horticulture.

The harbour trust has lodged a planning application with East Lothian Council for the mural, with a decision expected in September.

The 27,000 fragments of plastic were collected by one dedicated resident, Lil Vischer, who spent 100 days gathering the pieces along Longniddry Bents, and the intricate artwork is expected to take Julie more than two months to produce.

Julie, whose most recent project comprised a life-sized seal structure made from waste plastic for an environmental competition, said: “Art can speak a thousand words and I hope that this important mural will make a connection with the viewer.

“Alongside my regular work as a painter, I use the power of art to provoke emotional and practical responses to environmental issues facing us all.

“It’s an honour to do the installation and the visual power of art is an incredible way to inspire, educate and bring about vital behaviour change across society as a whole.”

The planned artwork will last for many years in the harbour and it is hoped it will have an important impact as tourists flock to the area and take in its important message.

Simon Poole, co-founder of Jerba Campervans, said: “The planned mural will not only be visually breathtaking but will also send a clear message about the real harm that waste plastic is causing to our seas and beaches.

“We’re delighted to have Julie on board with this project as it is an important message that hopefully will chime with a range of audiences, locally and also outwith the area.

“As a company that is enthusiastic about all things outdoors, these initiatives are so important to us as we strive to preserve the beautiful coastlines and natural land. A plastic-free beach shouldn’t be a novelty but should be something that is standard.

“East Lothian is becoming increasingly popular with tourists, with so many visiting North Berwick’s Harbour, so the visual representation will be seen by hundreds.

“We expect it to very quickly become a local talking point and quite possibly a tourist attraction in its own right.”