Stunning Art From Selco Rubbish

They say one man’s rubbish is another man’s treasure – and that’s certainly the case for Catford artist Michael Connell.

Connell takes scrap wood, broken glass and sash cord and makes stunning contemporary art in his back garden. Much of the wood he uses comes from the Catford branch of Selco Builders Warehouse on Bromley Road.

Connell, a 63-year-old floor screeder, said: “Construction is my livelihood, but art is my passion. I love to take waste materials and make them into something spectacular. I’ve been using the Selco up the road for years. They have been great as they let me take the bits of wood in between pallets and recycle them. It’s a huge help.”

He has built a large shed in his garden which he uses to do his artwork. The shed, called Povera and made entirely from recycled materials, was a finalist in George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces competition – and he also throws open the doors every year for art exhibitions.

A film crew recently visited Connell’s shed to make a documentary about his work. He is hoping to use the space for a fashion show next year utilising local designers who use recycled items.

Carolyn Bellers, manager at Selco Catford, said: “It’s great to be able to support a loyal Selco customer like Michael in this way. I’ve seen some of his artwork and it’s fantastic. We’re an eco-conscious company so we’re pleased to see some of our waste being reused in an imaginative way.”

With hundreds of trade brands always in stock and open seven days a week and for a minimum of 80 hours, Selco Catford and the other 65 branches in UK are firmly focused on helping local tradespeople complete their jobs as quickly and effectively as possible.

As well as offering trade services and a café in branch, Selco also has a strong digital presence including a 30 minute Click & Collect service and a free Project List app which allows tradespeople to plan, manage, and quote for all jobs – as well as complete purchases – through their smartphone.

For more information on Selco visit www.selcobw.com