Helen Birnbaum is an artist who has always approached society and science in a questioning way. Her aim has always been to communicate ideas about the modern world in the most accessible and humorous way possible, and she strives to create exciting art that will always make you think. A variety of ceramic hand-building techniques are used often incorporating found materials such as rusty industrial metal pieces, coiled telephone wires and found objects. Aluminium, steel and copper waste found in local scrap yards and recycling centres in the North West is frequently used. Recycling old metal and plastic pieces has always played an important part in her artistic practice bringing to fruition her design ethos and also in echoing the ecological themes championed. By using discarded materials the intention is to remind the viewer of vital environmental concerns.