Paintings by one of the UK's most innovative artists, Jamie Hewlett (Gorillaz, Tank Girl, Monkey: Journey to the West), will be exhibited at the Glasgow Film Theatre in Glasgow to draw attention to climate change, as world leaders meet in Copenhagen for the UN Climate Conference.

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 the GFT throughout December and into January.

The exhibition takes place as world leaders meet in the Danish capital Copenhagen to thrash out a global climate deal. Oxfam is in Copenhagen campaigning for a fair and binding deal from the talks, one which commits rich countries to cut their emissions and pledges money to help poor countries like Bangladesh adapt to the impacts of climate change.

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, 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."

Angela Freeman of the GFT, said:

"The GFT is delighted to work with Oxfam and Jamie Hewlett to host this exhibition. Not only are the paintings beautiful, but they help raise awareness of climate change, one of the most pressing issues of our time. As Scotland has the best climate change targets in the world, we are delighted that Jamie's exhibition is being shown here."

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.