Follow the long and winding path to the ?Frozen Hut? just above the sands of the Coral Beach Club and there you will find Munchie, LaTanya, K?Waindee and T?Shea going up the wall.

The fishy four are the creation of Stratton Hatfield, a 20-year-old Bermudian who is studying industrial design and landscape design at Savannah College of Art in Georgia.

From early childhood Stratton has ?practically grown up? playing on Coral Beach, where his parents Martin and Fiona are long-standing members, but this year for the first time he is working there as a beach boy.

While not strictly a part of his duties, Stratton cares passionately about the environment ? a natural progression given that his late aunt, Phyllis West Harron, was the founder of Keep Bermuda Beautiful ? so he makes it his business to pick up the trash that either rolls in on the waves or is dropped on the pristine sands by unthinking guests.

Where he differs from some like-minded environmentalists, however, is that he turns the tiny bits of coloured plastic, twine and other found objects into art rather than just discarding them.

In fact, Stratton is a big believer in recycling, which is why the foundations of his colourful, three-dimensional fish are recycled cardboard beer cartons. Creativity and a hot gun complete the process.

In fact, besides inspiring him to create his fish, Stratton noticed that this year in particular there seemed to be trash than ever on all of Bermuda?s beaches.

?I have noticed a lot of trash in Bermuda all over all the beaches, not just on Coral Beach,? he says. ?It is absolutely disgusting.

?People don?t look or think. They go down to the beach in the evening with their six-pack of bottles and stuff, and they just leave it all behind.

?These are Bermudians who take advantage of the beach. It is very frustrating. This is such a beautiful island, why would anyone want to do this??

Recently, at his late grandmother?s home, he found a ?Please do not litter. Keep Bermuda Beautiful? sign in excellent condition. Today he has posted it at the very end of the path leading to Coral Beach itself, and right beside it he has positioned a litter bin. Time and again he has been pleased to observe the Club?s guests depositing their litter into the bin.

?See,? he smiles, ?it works? as yet another plastic bottle drops in.

In fact, since he began creating his fish, Stratton has also noticed that the amount of trash on Coral Beach has dropped considerably.

Although his job is very busy at weekends, sometimes around mid-week things become quiet, and when they do the caring beach boy will combine his regular duties with making his fish.

In making the four fish he has created thus far ? a parrot fish, an angel fish, a slippery dick and a white grunt ? Stratton used coloured, plasticised cards produced by Fantasea Diving to assist guest divers in identifying Bermuda?s fish under water to guide him in placing the little bits of plastic in the correct places.

Of his unusual hobby, the young Bermudian says, ?I love being original.?

Defining himself not as an artist but as a ?creatologist?, Stratton says his interest in art from found objects was kindled during his year at Millbrook School, an ?amazing? boarding school in the US, where his art teacher was equally ?amazing?.

?He was the biggest role model of my life, and I had him for three years,? he says. ?I took an aesthetics course mixed with sociology, anthropology and art appreciation. It was an all-round, life-changing course which really opened my eyes.?

Another major influence on his creativity was Joseph Cornell, a major US collage artist.

Stratton?s studies also included an ?honours studio? where he was given his very own space in which to create whatever he wanted.

Even back then three-dimensional collages made from found objects were a particular focus, and today one trio featuring shadow boxes embedded in an old French door and incorporating, among other things, a Barritt?s ginger beer box, continues to be displayed.

?My art teacher loved it,? he says.

Apart from the fact that his family association at Coral Beach goes back many years, Stratton is also ?best friends? with the family of the present owners, so his affection for the property runs deep.

?I know they are trying to run a business, and it is always nice to have everything looking at its best, so I take pride in doing my part.?

Beyond taking pride in his job, he says ?everyone should pick up trash wherever they see it?.

?I teach that lesson to the children who come here, as well as teaching them manners,? he says.

Indeed, he notices that many of today?s youngsters lack even such basics as ?Please? and ?Thank you?, and he feels it is important not to let them get away with it. If they forget such basics he reminds them until they do remember.

?I tell them ?Manners make the world go around. Please make it go around?.?

It is a case of history repeating itself, for manners were also important to his late aunt Phyllis ? as was caring for the environment.

No doubt she would have been proud to know that these values are being instilled in successive generations thanks to her influence on her nephew.