Kate Crawfurd Environmental Artist and Science Communicator
Organisation Bio
I translate marine climate science into visual public artworks and experiences. I have been a professional artist for 30 years and also hold a science PhD “Marine Phytoplankton in a High CO₂ World”. I turn complex environmental processes into visual, interactive, immersive experiences that help people understand, connect and care.
My work draws connections between plankton, fossil fuels and people. Rooted in my study of phytoplankton, I am interested in how microscopic marine life, essential to ocean systems, also forms the fossil fuels we extract and burn. These links shape how I explore climate change and address societal change.
This is explored in “A Teaspoonful of Plankton”, a digital commission for The Box, Plymouth, as part of the Planet Ocean exhibition. Through public workshops and animation, participants drew plankton that immediately became part of an immersive film, creating a strong connection to the science.
My PhD research on ocean acidification informed The Ocean Organ, an interactive installation that visualises ocean chemistry at different CO2 concentrations.
I also explore plastics as through Precious Plastic Plymouth CIC using creative recycling to open conversations about plastic, waste, consumption and plastic as an oil derivative.
As a mural artist, I bring these ideas into public space. Commissioned by the University of Plymouth and Devon Climate Emergency, I created the Net Zero Visions murals in prominent locations.
I am driven by the need for my work to have impact, communicating climate science in ways that are positive and powerful. Based in Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean city my practice responds to sea level rise, storm surges and environmental change.
I work as an intermediary between scientists and communities, translating research into accessible visual forms. I am open to commissions and collaborations that connect people and planet through climate science and creative practice.
Product/Services
What we provide
My work supports Plymouth’s journey to Net Zero by increasing public understanding of climate science and creating meaningful engagement with environmental issues. Using my artistic practice, I translate complex topics such as climate change, fossil fuels and plastics into accessible visual experiences that connect people to science and encourage more sustainable behaviours.
With 30 years’ experience as a professional artist and a PhD in marine science, my practice combines scientific expertise with large-scale visual communication. I create murals, immersive installations and interactive artworks that make complex environmental processes visible and relevant to everyday life. I also lead community projects as Director and Artistic Lead of Precious Plastic Plymouth and Tavistock CIC, a creative recycling initiative delivering workshops, events and exhibitions.
My work sits at the intersection of art and science. For example, A Teaspoonful of Plankton (The Box, Plymouth, 2024) was an immersive digital commission engaging over 2,000 workshop participants and reaching 54,000 visitors. The work invited audiences to draw plankton which became part of a large-scale film installation. Audience feedback included: “This is the best children’s activity ever!” and “I’ve learnt so much!”
Similarly, the AHRC-funded Net Zero Visions project (2022) involved co-designing and delivering three large-scale augmented reality murals with the University of Plymouth and Devon Climate Emergency. The project visualised positive, achievable net-zero futures through community engagement and public art. Feedback from the Project Lead noted: “Kate went above and beyond… the stakeholder and community response has been extremely positive, with Kate repeatedly singled out for praise.” The project also produced a toolkit, films and received national media coverage.
Audience and partner feedback consistently highlights the accessibility and impact of my work, particularly its ability to communicate complex scientific ideas in ways that are engaging, inclusive and memorable. This public engagement plays an important role in supporting the cultural and behavioural change needed for Net Zero.
About our climate journey
I began my career as an artist, training in theatre set painting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. While I loved this work, I became increasingly concerned about climate change and wanted to engage more directly with the science behind it. Building on a strong foundation in science, I retrained in marine biology at the University of Plymouth and went on to complete a PhD at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, "Marine Phytoplankton in a High CO₂ World". I continued this research at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research.
I now bring these two strands together, using my scientific knowledge and artistic practice to translate complex climate science into visual, immersive and interactive experiences, as well as large-scale public murals. This approach creates accessible and engaging ways to share research with broad audiences, raising awareness and bringing scientific insights into public and decision-making spaces.
