Coastal & Nautical Wall Art
Coastal License Plate Art: Mermaids, Sea Turtles and More
Packwood Plates is a small handmade shop in the Sarasota-Bradenton area, on Florida's Gulf Coast. Every mermaid, sea turtle, dolphin, seahorse and crab on this page was hand-cut from real U.S. license plates and fastened together by hand, so no two are alike. Looking for coastal metal wall art or nautical wall decor made from real plates? Pick a creature below, or tell us yours.
From $249
Custom art pieces
Real plates
Florida or any state
2 to 4 weeks
Handmade to order
Why Florida plates make natural beach metal wall art
Florida plates already carry the colors of the coast: green lettering on white, orange blossoms, and Sunshine State or MyFlorida.com along the bottom. Cut into a tail or a shell, those graphics read as scales and sunlight. County names stay visible too: one mermaid carries a Sarasota plate, and the large turtle shows Pinellas, Orange and Bay. Plates from any other state can be mixed in for blues, golds and reds, or to put your home state on the wall.
Mermaid license plate art
A mermaid's tail gives the eye one long curve to follow, which makes it a strong shape for plate art. The four here show the range: a curled mermaid in green and white Florida plates, two reclining silhouettes mixing MyFlorida plates with older red-lettered plates, and a seated mermaid with "MERRY MERMAID" spelled across her in small cut plate letters. A name, a boat name or a short phrase can be added the same way. Mermaid metal wall art starts at $249, with size and detail quoted.
Sea turtle license plate art
A sea turtle's shell is already a patchwork, so it is one of the best shapes for mixing plates. In the pair below, the larger turtle is built from Florida county plates with a red-lettered Florida plate across the shell, and the smaller mixes Sunshine State, Empire State and South Carolina plates. The single turtle carries Mississippi, Nevada and North Carolina's "First in Flight." Order a pair in two sizes, one turtle in your home state's plates, or a whole family, from $249.
Dolphin metal wall art
A dolphin needs a clean silhouette: a curved back, a dorsal fin and a tail that kicks up. The leaping dolphin below has a turquoise New Mexico head with its red and yellow sun symbol and an Ohio dorsal fin. The swimming dolphin is cut from Texas, Mississippi and Nevada plates, with a deep blue Michigan tail. Ask for blue, white and yellow plates if you want yours to read as water. Looking for metal fish wall art? Other sea creatures can be quoted as custom shapes too: send a reference picture and we will tell you what we can build. Dolphins start at $249.
Seahorse and crab license plate art
Smaller sea creatures pair well with a mermaid or turtle, or stand alone on a narrow wall. The seahorse is cut from Mississippi, Massachusetts and Florida plates, with a spiked fin down its back. The crab is all Florida: a Walton County Sunshine State plate across the body, MyFlorida.com and orange blossoms in the legs, and jagged cuts that open the claws. Both start at $249.
Lighthouse and sailboat nautical wall decor
Not every coastal piece is an animal. This lighthouse is cut from New Jersey Garden State plates, proof that the coast on your wall can be yours, not just ours. The sailboat scene sets plate-cut palm trees, two small sailboats and a city skyline still stamped SUNSHINE against a painted sunset over blue water. Scenes are quoted on size and detail. For boat shapes, see our license plate boat art; for a name sign for the house itself, see beach house license plate signs.
How a coastal order works
- •Pick a creature here, or send a picture of yours
- •All Florida plates, your home state, or a mix
- •Add a name, a boat name or a short phrase if you like
- •Size, detail and price confirmed in your quote, from $249
- •Handmade in about 2 to 4 weeks, confirmed with your quote
- •Packed in foam in a custom-fit box, shipped with tracking in the continental USA
Frequently Asked Questions
Can coastal license plate art hang outside?
We do not sell these pieces as weatherproof. An indoor wall or a covered porch out of the rain is the best home for them.
How much does a mermaid or sea turtle cost?
Custom art pieces like these start at $249. Size and detail are quoted, and we confirm the price and timeline with your quote before any work starts.
Do you only use Florida plates?
No. Florida plates are a natural fit for coastal pieces, but we source real plates from across the United States and can mix in any state you name.
How long does a custom piece take, and how does it ship?
About 2 to 4 weeks to make, with the exact timeline confirmed with your quote. It ships packed in foam in a custom-fit box, with tracking, within the continental USA. Shipping for custom pieces is confirmed with the quote; the flat $25 rate applies to ready-to-ship pieces.
Can you make a sea creature that is not shown here?
Yes. Send a reference picture through the contact form or call (941) 392-1386, and we will quote it as a custom art piece.
Start your coastal piece
Tell us the creature, the states and where it will hang, and we will come back with a quote covering size, detail, price and timeline.