A host of creative celebrities, top artists and designers have come together to join the fight for clean water by creating bespoke climate-themed artworks for international charity WaterAid.
Art by comedian Jim Moir (aka Vic Reeves), presenter Alan Titchmarsh, actor and director Amanda Mealing, designer Dame Zandra Rhodes, and many more are being displayed and sold in auction at London’s Saatchi Gallery in partnership with the British Art Fair, which launched on Thursday 28 September and runs till Sunday 1 October 2023.
From a bright watercolour showing the power of water by Jane Seymour, to a fabric-framed picture depicting Mother Nature by Dame Zandra Rhodes, and a dark oil and spray paint piece by The Cure’s Robert Smith, the unique collection, called Art of Change, aims to help turn the tide on climate change.
The climate crisis is a water crisis – and the 11 artworks are raising awareness that one in ten people don’t have clean water close to home and climate change is making this worse. Longer and more severe droughts mean wells and springs run dry whilst more frequent and extreme flooding pollutes water sources. A reliable source of clean water that keeps flowing whatever the weather helps people living on the frontlines of climate change to adapt and build a better future.
All proceeds from the auction will help WaterAid deliver water, sanitation and hygiene essentials, so more people can stay strong against climate change, and transform their health, education and livelihoods.
Comedian and artist Jim Moir, who attended last night’s launch event, created a watercolour piece entitled ‘Well in Desert’. He said:
“From making our morning cuppas to cleaning paint pots and having a nice soak in the tub, it’s easy to take water for granted. But millions of people around the world don’t have clean water at the turn of a tap, and climate change is making the situation worse.”
Also attending the special preview event was actor, director and WaterAid Ambassador Amanda Mealing, who created a triptych entitled Family, Fire and Flo. She said:
“I chose to focus on family because water is central to a healthy family life. I also included a photo of a lady called Mary who I met in Ghana, and who had given birth in a health facility with no clean water or toilets. Thanks to WaterAid, women in her community no longer have to risk their health and dignity in this way, but millions globally still do not have clean water, and the climate crisis is making it worse. Clean water is vital for the health of our children and generations to come, whatever the future holds.”
Gardener and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh painted a piece on canvas called Water = Growth, featuring a tap watering a plant. He said:
“Water unites us all – plants, animals, and humans – giving us life and offering growth and opportunity. However, the climate crisis is putting our natural world and access to water under threat. I’m delighted to be part of WaterAid’s Art of Change exhibition and have painted a piece entitled Water = Growth to highlight the power of water, which is vital in building resilience to the effects of climate change.”
Actor, author and artist Jane Seymour created a watercolour called ‘Cosmic Wave’. She said:
“Water shows its universal force in nature and in human life with the changing climate, producing more powerful and frequent storms and floods, resulting in the global movement of millions of people. However, water also holds enormous power to heal and change lives for the better. It helps children stay in school, enables women to earn a living; it helps medical staff safely treat patients; and it helps whole communities have healthy and prosperous lives.”
The full list of artists involved is Alan Titchmarsh, Amanda Mealing, Ben Eine, Duncan Jago, Jane Seymour, Jim Moir, Pure Evil, Robert Smith, Rosannagh Scarlet Esson, Sophie Tea and Dame Zandra Rhodes.
