Painting the Earth with Earth

An artist has officially created the world's largest painting made entirely from soil. Phil Lambert, who lives in Cardiff, used four different types of earth to produce the record-breaking work, which measures 61,000 square centimetres. The UK-based Official Record Breakers confirmed that the piece surpassed the previous record of just over 59,000 square centimetres. Mr Lambert built the artwork on an upcycled wooden frame and canvas supplied by a social enterprise that recycles wood.

The project was designed to draw attention to the importance of soil health. It was completed at University College London to support the Save Soil movement, which is urging governments to make soil regeneration a priority at the 31st UN Climate Change Conference. A new report from the university highlights how healthy soils are essential for storing carbon, regulating water, and supporting biodiversity and food systems.

Mr Lambert explained that he has been familiar with painting with soil for around a decade. For this particular piece, he used soil from his own garden and some from his mother's home, along with donations from a scientific institute in Scotland. He described having a clear image in his mind of a tree, a hedge, and a field while he was working. Through past collaborations with scientists, he said he learned about the threats facing soil. He noted that if people return to fields they walked in as children, they might observe thinner soil and more visible rock on the surface today.

A spokesperson for the campaign, Henry Asplin, described the painting as a visual call to action. He argued that soil acts as the planet's quiet infrastructure and is one of our greatest climate solutions, yet it remains largely invisible in national climate plans. Professor Mark Maslin, a climate scientist at UCL, added that protecting and restoring soil must be at the heart of every nation's climate strategy if the world is serious about limiting warming and securing a liveable future.

Jennifer Robinson, whose organisation provided the wooden materials, said that caring for the environment is central to their work. Coming from a farming background herself, she believes the cause is absolutely crucial. She has personally noticed changes in the colour of local soil and pointed out that areas with more plants and trees have soil that is less exposed and evidently healthier, whereas bare ground often shows massive cracks.

The artwork raises interesting questions about materials. Whereas traditional paintings use manufactured pigments, this piece relies on natural variations in the earth. As a result, the colours are directly connected to the landscape. Some people might ask whether using soil is simply a clever stunt to get attention for a cause. However, supporters argue that land art has a long history, and using the subject itself as the material creates a powerful, direct message about what we are losing.