Recycle wonder: Man creates unique artworks from used aluminium cans

An enterprising artist is turning his trash into cash by using empty aluminium cans to create unique artworks that sell for thousands.

Jeff Ivanhoe, 67, has spent more than 30 years painstakingly piecing together his 'AluMosaics'; carving cans into tiny pieces then arranging the colourful strips into images of everything from dogs and vintage cars to Elvis Presley and the Statue of Liberty.

The New York artist has made over 200 pieces since 1979, and sold more than 150 for between £1,500 and £4,000 each.

Self-confessed perfectionist Mr Ivanhoe requires just a meagre budget for materials as he uses only discarded drinks cans to create his mosaics, which he spends weeks putting together.

'All I use is empty Coca-Cola and other brands of aluminium cans people throw away,' he said. 'Everybody gives me cans now all of the time so I need to keep working to get through them all. 'If I were a painter I would have to purchase paint - fortunately cans are a lot cheaper.

'A 36-inch by 48-inch Alumosaic takes approximately two to three weeks to complete if I work solidly for between four and six hours a day.

'I could do them faster but as I'm a bit of a perfectionist it never happens,' said the 67-year-old, who trained as a graphic artist at the University of Arizona before working as an art director in advertising

'The "Chief" took the longest - about four to five weeks. I just couldn't quite get the deep-seated eyes to my wife's and my satisfaction. Mr Ivanhoe said his wife Barbara was instrumental in the development of his AluMosaics.