Sophie Tea’s ‘Charity Shop Hunt’: Promoting Second Hand Item Shopping and Body Positivity

British painter Sophie Tea has been doing a series of art bombing events called Charity Shop Hunt. Tea finds charity shops or second-hand item shops across the UK to purchase a single item in these events. She will then return the item after painting an original piece at no cost. After “art bombing” a charity shop, Tea would post about the particular piece and the charity shop on social media, effectively sending a flood of her followers into the shops.

Painted handbag by Sophie Tea, from Charity Shop Hunt Ep. 1. Image courtesy of @sophieteaart/Instagram.

These art bombing events are made to encourage her audiences to both buy or donate their used goods to second-hand shops. So that they can help prolong the life cycle of these items and keep them out of landfills in the UK and worldwide. On the other hand, Tea’s oeuvre, which she has imbued onto these thrift shop pieces, has been all about “making women feel just a bit nicer about themselves.” Tea frequently depicts women’s body parts in all shapes and sizes, showing that every woman’s body, no matter their body type and skin colour, is beautiful and worthy of admiration and respect. This is why Sophie Tea’s Charity Shop Hunt is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Responsible Consumption and Production, Gender Equality, and Good Health And Well-Being.

Painted electric guitar by Sophie Tea, from Charity Shop Hunt Ep. 5. Image courtesy of @sophieteaart/Instagram.

Sophie Tea’s Charity Shop Hunt series is extremely popular on social media, garnering almost 1 million views per charity shop on just Instagram. Part of why they are so popular is because of her work's fun and easy-going nature. Despite its rather heavy message about going against society’s policing of women’s bodies through beauty standards, Tea’s artworks are colourful and playful. The bodies she has depicted appear more like jellies and confectioneries, something to be desired no matter their appearance.

Skin by Sophie Tea. Image courtesy of Sophie Tea’s website.

Sophie Tea’s Charity Shop Hunt bolsters an already rising trend where everyday British folks are shopping at charity shops. In 2022, charity shop spending in the UK rose from 663 million pounds in 2020 to 674 million pounds. The British Civil Society organization has also noted that nearly half of the people in England and Wales shop more in charity shops due to the rising cost of living. Hence, Sophie Tea’s Charity Shop Hunt is further promoting the cyclical economy nature of charity shops to the other half who still have not turned to them.

Painted lamp by Sophie Tea, from Charity Shop Hunt Ep. 4. Image courtesy of @sophieteaart/Instagram.

Sophie Tea’s Charity Shop Hunt initiative creatively intertwines art with sustainability and body positivity. By transforming second-hand items into unique, hand-painted treasures, Tea supports the life cycle extension of these goods and draws attention to the importance of responsible consumption. Her art, which celebrates the beauty of women’s diverse bodies, amplifies the message of self-love and inclusivity. By merging art with activism, Charity Shop Hunt shows how creative initiatives can inspire meaningful change in both societal attitudes and consumer behaviours.

Find out more about Charity Shop Hunt and other initiatives by Sophie Tea on their website, www.sophieteaart.com, or their Instagram @sophieteaart.