An elaborate artistic homage to Devonshire, created by 16-year-old Anthony Whaley, now stands on display in the City Hall foyer — a testament to parish pride and hard work.

Hours of research and design went into its intertwining of the Devonshire crest with parish history and landmark scenes: the historic treasure of “Palmetto House”, for instance, or the boats moored at Devonshire Bay.

“It can’t be used for trash — it’s too pretty,” said Melanie Whaley, mother of the year 12 Warwick Academy student, watching as Anthony hauled his creation on to its display stand. But trash is exactly what Anthony wants it used for. A dedicated member of Keep Bermuda Beautiful (KBB), Anthony decided to take the group’s “Artful Bins” idea and run with it.

As an International Baccalaureate student, Anthony has 150 hours in total to finish for the Creativity Action Service segment.

“I thought this would be a great idea, especially for the creativity,” he said. “That can be the hard part.”

The fine detail on the lettering or the rippling colours in the painted water might lead an observer to think an arts student created the bin for the Devonshire Parish Council.

“Actually, my aspiration is to become an aeronautical engineer — I’m mostly into physics and maths,” Anthony said.

“I’m always sketching and I love drawing. Design is a major thing with engineering. I find the arts in general fun. But in art you get assigned what to do.”

The barrel started life as a container for chemicals used at the Watlington Waterworks plant — also in Devonshire.

It is not the first time Anthony made one: he created a KBB artful bin in 2014, and a Warwick Academy bin later that same year. After cleaning the latest barrel and giving it a new outer coat, Anthony designed and then painted the exterior in the family kitchen. All told, it took 30 hours’ work.

It was handed over to the Council last month at the Matilda Smith Williams Seniors’ Residence, where the group holds its meetings.

“We were literally astounded by the final project,” council member Kimberley Caines said.

“The attention to detail and the accuracy of Devonshire locales, like Devonshire Bay and Palmetto House, as well as our parish crest, was phenomenal.”

Thanking KBB director Anne Hyde for coming up with the idea, Anthony said he was toying with going on to create similar bins for the rest of Bermuda’s parishes.

“People can look at them, enjoy them, and also use them properly instead of throwing things out the old way. I really hope it will have a functional useful future.”