Paintings by one of the UK's most innovative artists, Jamie Hewlett (Gorillaz, Tank Girl, Monkey: Journey to the West), will have their Scottish premiere for one day only as part of The Wave, Scotland's largest ever demonstration to demand action on climate change, which takes place in Glasgow next Saturday (December 5).

Earlier this year, Jamie accompanied Oxfam to Char Atra, a river-island in the Ganges in Bangladesh, to see the human cost of climate change for himself. When in Bangladesh, Jamie met people trying to raise their homes above the higher flood levels, parents who had lost children to the floods and children who swim to school with their books on their heads, determined not to allow the floods prevent them from getting an education.

The experience inspired him to paint nine watercolours, which will be exhibited in Under Water Colours at Glasgow University Union as part of the activities associated with The Wave.

The Wave and Jamie's exhibition will take place two days before world leaders meet in Copenhagen to strike a global climate deal.

Jamie Hewlett said:

"Char Atra is such an idyllic place and it's horrific to think of it being simply washed away, devastating the community. I wanted my paintings to be optimistic as well as realistic and I wanted to show what a beautiful place it is. I hope by concentrating on the people and their every day lives that I have given people here in Britain something they can relate to.

"This exhibition shows how climate change is already affecting people around the world but also how we can all do something now to stop this from getting completely out of control."

Selina Shelley, Oxfam Global Campaigner from Bangladesh, who will be speaking at The Wave march and at Jamie's exhibition, said:

"In my home country of Bangladesh, people are struggling every day to cope with the impacts of climate change. Floods, natural disasters and severe weather events are robbing families of their children and taking homes, jobs, food and water.

"World leaders meeting in Copenhagen next week must strike a fair and binding deal to cut emissions and prevent people living in countries like Bangladesh suffering further from climate change. I urge people in Glasgow to come out for The Wave next Saturday and put pressure on world leaders to deliver this deal."

Malcolm Fleming, The Wave Event Manager, said:

"It's great to have Jamie's paintings in Glasgow as part of The Wave to help raise awareness about climate change and push for a strong deal at the Copenhagen Climate Conference. As Scotland has the best climate change legislation in the world, I urge everyone to come along to The Wave and the exhibition to encourage world leaders in Copenhagen to share Scotland's ambition on climate."

Six of the watercolours are available for sale as limited edition prints at www.oxfam.org.uk/jamiehewlett, with proceeds going to Oxfam's work to help people in the region protect themselves from the effects of climate change.