Over the past few weeks, there has been much debate about what makes good public art.

A 12ft statue of heavily pregnant disabled artist Alison Lapper, from Shoreham, on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square sparked some heated discussions.

Meanwhile, in Brighton, artist Rafael Berrio, was showing his work a little more quietly.

Rafael Berrio, from Rottingdean, might be less controversial than Marc Quinn, who created the figure of Alison Lapper, but he is as equally accomplished.

Like Quinn, Berrio creates images of the human figure by sculpting natural materials.

He uses driftwood to carve beautiful, totem pole-like characters and designs that reach up to the skies and strikingly catch the light.

He is concerned with environmental issues and enjoys the idea of creating art through cast-offs of nature.

It is generally accepted that public art needs to be attractive, eye-catching and to have an important message. But that message does not always have to be spelled out for the audience.

It is sometimes better to create a piece that, like Mr Berrio's work, teases passers-by and invites them to ask questions about its meaning.

Some see Marc Quinn's sculpture of mother-of-one Alison, who has no arms or legs, as an expression of female heroism and a celebration of motherhood.

Others have condemned it for having no relevance to public life.

Whatever the beholder's view, it has certainly reignited public interest in art.

Similarly, Mr Berrio's work is political and invites onlookers to think differently about what he or she is seeing.

His latest collection, which has just been displayed on Brighton beach, is partly made from local trees that had to be felled due to Dutch elm disease - wood that would normally be discarded.

The diseased bark was removed and the trunk treated so it was no longer contagious to other plants.

Mr Berrio then turned it into sculptures for art lovers to enjoy.

The pieces have been shown at Preston Park and Queen's Park in Brighton and they were at the beach for four days until Sunday.

The sculptures are part of a project called Faces Of Nature, which Mr Berrio has been working on for two years.

He said: "It is environmental art promoting local and rural issues relating to free trade, poverty and globilisation.

"I am promoting art in public spaces for the community.

"The pieces are made out of recycled driftwood and wood with Dutch elm disease.

"I have been talking about the problem of Dutch elm disease in Sussex this year.

"We have been losing nearly 400 trees.

"You take the bark off so the timber can be reused."

Dutch elm disease is caused by 8mm elm bark beetles, which need to be removed to stop it from spreading.

In Preston Park, where Mr Berrio's work went on display, a 25m tree recently had to be cut down after falling victim to the disease.

In his art, Mr Berrio combines the influence of many different cultures.

He was born in Colombia to a Spanish father and an African mother. His grandfather was a indigenous Colombian.

He has lived in Rottingdean for seven years and has collected pieces of wood washed up on the beach near the village, in Ovingdean and in Hove.

He has also lived in Spain and Lancashire.

In a statement about the Faces Of Nature project, he said: "I use Latin American and African motifs and symbols that reference the connection between man and nature, exploring the religious and folkloric and cultural aspects they have.

"I also address the social and ecological issues to promote environmental awareness using my work to communicate and educate."

Mr Berrio, 45, lives with his wife Margaret Rose and two children Naomi, 14, and Solomon, nine.

He carves by hand using a chisel or machete.

He was a professional builder until about three years ago when he began carving small pieces and turning them into artworks using a Stanley knife.

Since then, he has been involved in a number of projects, including exhibiting at Hove Town Hall and working with pupils from Varndean School in Brighton, helping them to use "dead elements" from the environment such as wood and chalk to create artistic pieces.

He was commissioned to create his recent exhibition by Brighton and Hove City Council.

In 2002, as part of the South Coast EcoArt Group, Mr Berrio took part in a conference at the University of Sussex talking about pollution, the exploitation of natural resources, globilisation and environmental policy in developing countries.

Mr Berrio's home country of Colombia is blighted by inequality and the cocaine trade.

More than 70 per cent of Afro-Colombians are living below the poverty line.

Mr Berrio tries to tell the story of this inequality through his art.

He is also a painter and is a member of a lively ten-piece Cuban-style salsa band called Bacalao, which is named after a fish. The band is made up of builders who are amateur musicians.

They played a summer party in Komedia, the popular comedy and music venue in Gardner Street, Brighton, in July.

They will return to Komedia for a Cuban party on Saturday, November 19. The event will celebrate the life of Ibrahim Ferrer, the Buena Vista Social Club singer who died this August and will include a salsa dance class, Afro Cuban drumming, a DJ, dance display and a slice of Havana life with peanut sellers, shoe shiners and Cuban cigars, with proceeds going to Cuban charities.

It is hoped that there will be another Faces Of Nature exhibition in November.

The location is not yet confirmed but when it is decided details will appear on the web site at www.facesofnature.info Mr Berrio said: "Our vision is to continue doing good for the community."

To report Dutch elm disease in Brighton and Hove, call the city council's arboricultural team on 01273 292187.

To book tickets for the Ibrahim Ferrer tribute party, call the Komedia box office on 01273 647100.