Bill Bartlett

About Bill: A Polzeath Guide and Beach Art Enthusiast

Experienced Teacher: I've years of teaching various subjects and now about 10 years of teaching Beach Art and the history of Polzeath.
Global Wanderer: "All who wander may actually be lost", but my teaching career has somehow taken me all over the UK and to Australia, USA, Morocco, Thailand, Cambodia, Kenya, and Bangladesh. Make of that what you will.
Lifelong Learner: I have a degree in Psychology from Durham and a PGCE from Exeter. I'm totally open to new ideas and learning from others and have a particular expertise in researching and running local campaigns. My social media readership is one of the highest in North Cornwall (details below)

Exploring with Bill:

Photography and Film Enthusiast: As an original Geograph photographer, my photos around the UK are now preserved in the British Library. I have recently been featured in a couple of short films about Beach Art; one by German TV's ZDF and the other by Simon Ratigan called "We are all Artists".
Tech Upgrade: While I used to carry a Nikon and a Kelly Kettle on walks, now it's more likely to be a thermos, iPhone, and drone.
Organise: Over the years, I've organised challenges like the Three Peaks walking Challenge and the Polzeath Walks Walking Festival, the Beach Art festival and The Polzeath Community Film Festival.

Connect with Me:

Social Media: Find me on Facebook's @beachartists and @polzeathwalks or Instagram's @billys_beachart
Contact: 0748 646 1998 or email wnbartlett@gmail.com.

About Bill Bartlett: Digital Reach & Community Impact

I am the founder and curator of Polzeath Walks, Beach Art and The Polzeath Community Film Festivals. For over a decade, I have single-handedly built and managed the digital platforms that keep the Polzeath coastal community connected. My work is a self-funded labor of love—a blend of heritage, creative practice, and environmental storytelling that resonates with a growing audience across the UK and beyond.

My Digital Communities

Polzeath Walks (Facebook): The primary hub for heritage insights and local routes, written and managed by me for a dedicated following of over 6,000 readers.
Billy’s Beach Art (Instagram) & Beach Artists (Facebook): Creative spaces showcasing the ephemeral beauty of the Cornish coast through large-scale geometric patterns, engaging a growing community of over 1,000 followers.

Proven Viral Reach & Influence

The engagement across my platforms represents a significant impact on North Cornwall’s digital landscape:

Viral Performance: A single curated post for Polzeath Walks in 2025 achieved 180,946 views, with 95% of that reach coming from new audiences.
2025 Impact: Following my inaugural festivals in 2025, over 200 people attended them by joining guided walks or enjoying a Beach Art session.
Award-Winning Creative: My beach art was featured in the documentary “We Are All Artists,” nominated for the 2025 Kendal Mountain Festival People's Choice Award and one of the highly recommended films for the 2026 London Mountain Film Festival

A "Who’s Who" Audience

When you engage with my platforms, you are joining a curated community of:

Local "Year-Rounders": A concentrated following from Wadebridge, Bodmin, Truro, and St. Tudy.
Professional Talent: A network of architects, 3D modeling specialists, and professional photographers.
The "Polzeath Pilgrims": Frequent visitors from London, the Midlands, and Europe who stay connected to Cornwall through my content year-round.
Industry Leaders: Active readers and participants from the National Trust, the Eden Project, and local companies like Wavehunters.

Individual Dedication

Whether it’s offering workshops for 80+ students at St Minver School or engaging with high-level professionals, every interaction is personally managed by me. I use my digital reach of nearly 200,000 views at times to celebrate, preserve, and champion the unique character of our part of the North Cornwall coast.

Advocacy & Community Leadership

My work goes beyond digital curation; it is about active stewardship of the place we love. In 2025, I was proud to help with the launch the Polzeath Village CIC, a Community Interest Company designed to protect and enhance our village for generations to come.

Using the reach of my digital platforms, I have spearheaded campaigns that successfully helped stop industrial developments at Port Quin, reopened blocked footpaths, and demanded transparency on environmental issues like sand dune erosion. When you book a walk or a beach art session with me I'd like to think that you are supporting the protection and heritage of this part of North Cornwall.

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