You’ve seen the Baton, but let’s learn a little more about it…

The 2026 King’s Baton Relay marks a historic first: every Commonwealth nation and territory will receive its own Baton to decorate and celebrate in a way that reflects its culture. All 74 Batons will reunite at the Glasgow Opening Ceremony, where the final Baton will be presented to His Majesty to declare the Games open.

This year, the Relay also supports the Commonwealth’s partnership with the Royal Commonwealth Society to remove one million pieces of plastic from Commonwealth waters- a powerful reminder of the movement’s shared responsibility to protect our oceans.

Ahead of the Games, we’re proud to reveal England’s Baton, hand-decorated by Cornish artist Bonnie Steward, who transformed plastic collected from Cornwall’s beaches into vibrant mosaics that celebrate England’s identity. We sat down with Bonnie to explore her inspiration, the environmental message behind her work, and what it means to contribute to such an iconic moment for Team England.

Tell us a bit about who you are and what you do Bonnie?

I describe myself as a contemporary collage artist from Cornwall and the founder of BISH-ART. I work entirely with beach-cleaned and discarded materials, primarily from the coastline, and my practice also includes materials gathered from urban environments. I depict each place using only what I find there, reimagining waste into artworks shaped by the character, textures and stories of that specific location.

England is clearly the inspiration, but how did you determine what to feature as part of your design?

Knowing I was representing England specifically, I wanted the baton artwork, despite its tiny scale, to feel recognisable and meaningful. I’ve never worked at such a small size before, so every detail had to count. I focused on places, landmarks and a few key symbols that could speak to different parts of the country. What mattered most was creating something people could connect with, something familiar, considered and reflective of England as a whole.

What do you want people to feel when they see it?

I hope people feel a sense of connection when they see it. I wanted the artwork to hold details that feel familiar and rooted in England, whether that’s a place, a landmark or something that reminds them of home. If it encourages people to look a little closer and notice something they didn’t expect, even better. And if it brings back a memory or makes you smile, then it’s done what I hoped: to offer a moment of recognition and belonging.

How and why did you start collecting washed-up plastics and realise they could become something beautiful?

Growing up on the Cornish coastline, I became increasingly saddened by how much plastic was being washed ashore. I started collecting it because I couldn’t ignore it, and I quickly became obsessed with beach cleaning itself the searching, the finding, the sense of uncovering.

As a child, I made collages out of anything I could find, and that instinct to turn old or overlooked materials into something new has stayed with me. I created my first BISH-ART piece at sixteen, and working with repurposed materials has been central to my practice ever since.

What do you hope Team England fans will understand about ocean plastic when they learn the Baton is made from materials found on our own shores?

I hope people understand that ocean plastic is not just a beach issue. The materials used in the Baton were found on our own shores and in everyday urban spaces, which shows how close to home the problem really is. As someone who spends a lot of time beach cleaning, I see firsthand how much ends up in our environment and how quickly it builds up.

It reflects the wider systems we all live within, from how products are made and priced to the throwaway habits our society has grown used to. By seeing these fragments transformed into something meaningful, I hope it encourages everyone, from fans to the wider public and the organisations that shape what ends up on our shelves, to think differently about the materials we use and the impact they have.

Are there any hidden details, patterns or symbols in the mosaics that fans should look out for?

In my wider practice, I often incorporate hidden words, symbols and small visual references, some deliberately prominent, others much more discreet. I like the idea that a piece can reward curiosity, where the longer you look, the more there is to discover.

For the Baton artwork, there are subtle details embedded within the collage that viewers may enjoy noticing. There is a small representation of the Park Hill flats in Sheffield, a coastal sign referencing the King Charles III Coast Path, an aerobics figure, a red post box and a tiny cow, all tucked away within the wider collage.

There is a lot more to see on every side of the Baton; the more you look, the more you will notice.

Cornish views take pride of place on the Baton. Why is Cornwall so special to you?

Cornwall is my home, and it’s the place that shapes both my life and my practice. The beaches, the people and the materials I collect here all feed directly into the way I work, so it naturally becomes part of everything I create.

Cornwall also has a distinctive geographical position, sitting at the far west of the country with Land’s End marking the most westerly point of mainland Britain. It’s a landscape with a strong sense of identity, shaped by the Atlantic and by its own history and culture.

Including Cornish views on the Baton felt important not just because it’s my home, but because Cornwall is a recognisable and influential part of the wider landscape I work within.

What did it mean to you personally to be chosen to design the England Baton?

Being chosen to design the England Baton was an enormous honour. The invitation came as a complete surprise, and being trusted with something of this scale felt incredibly meaningful. As an artist, you rarely expect your work to be part of a national project, and I felt both proud and very aware of the responsibility that came with it. It marked a personal milestone as well as a professional one, and it’s something I’ll never forget.

How are you feeling about seeing athletes carry something you created?

It’s an incredible feeling. As an artist, you rarely imagine your work being carried by athletes in this way, so seeing the Baton out in the world will be both surreal and very meaningful. Athletes put so much discipline and commitment into what they do, and I really admire that, so being even a small part of their journey feels special. I feel proud, honoured and deeply grateful to have contributed to it, especially considering that in school my PE teachers once told me they hoped I’d find sports in the future.

When the Relay is over, what impact do you hope this Baton and its story will leave behind?

I hope the Baton leaves people with a sense of connection to the places and materials that shaped it. Everything in it came from coastlines and urban spaces, gathered through clean-ups and the hands-on process that drives my practice, and I want it to highlight the landscapes we share and the responsibility we have to look after them. I also hope it shows how materials once discarded can be reimagined into something people want to stop and engage with. And if it leaves a trace of my story or creates a lasting impression or conversation, whether it resonates with people or not, that’s something I value.

Follow Bonnie on social media (@bish_art_) or visit her website: www.bishart.co.uk