Trash Rain: Visualizing the Impact of Human Waste on Marine Life

At the Future Art & Design Award UK 2025 Winter Season, Pei-Ling Lee was awarded the Gold Prize in the category of Mixed Media Painting for her work Trash Rain.The project presents a powerful visual reflection on ocean pollution, using realism, contrast, and emotional storytelling to confront the fragile relationship between marine life and human activity.

Through the image of a sea turtle surrounded by falling debris, Trash Rain transforms environmental concern into a vivid, immersive experience. The work reflects Lee’s belief that art can serve as both personal expression and a voice for those unable to speak—inviting viewers to look closely, feel deeply, and reconsider their relationship with the natural world.

Q: Please give us a brief introduction about yourself and your creative background.

Pei-Ling:I started drawing when I was five years old, and art has been a constant part of my life ever since. From an early age, drawing became something natural to me, not only as a skill but also as a way to understand myself and the world around me. When I was in fifth grade, I discovered watercolor painting, and I immediately fell in love with it. I enjoy the feeling of how paint and water merge together, creating unexpected textures and colors that feel alive and expressive.

Throughout my school years, I actively participated in many art-related activities. I was involved in designing my school yearbook, creating class T-shirts, and producing posters for school fairs and events. These experiences allowed me to see how art could be used beyond personal expression and applied in real situations that bring people together and communicate ideas clearly.

The reason I love drawing is that it helps me sort out my emotions. When I am creating, I feel calm and focused, and I am able to express thoughts and feelings that are difficult to explain in words. During the creative process, I feel a sense of freedom. I can experiment, make mistakes, and follow my instincts on paper. Drawing gives me a space where I can be completely honest with myself.

In my free time, I continue to explore different artistic styles and techniques, including oil painting, sketching, and traditional Chinese painting. I am particularly interested in landscape painting and portrait drawing because they allow me to observe details, emotions, and environments more deeply. One of my designs was selected to be the cover of my graduating class’s yearbook, which was a meaningful recognition of my efforts. I was also frequently chosen by my classmates and teachers to design class T-shirts and school fair posters, experiences that strengthened my confidence and reinforced my passion for art.

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in creative / art / design?

Pei-Ling:When I was a child, my father often sat with me and drew picture books together. Those moments were quiet and meaningful, and they made drawing feel warm and personal rather than something I had to learn. When I started drawing more at 6 years old, I also received a lot of encouragement from my mother. She bought me many painting tools and gave me a creative space where I could experiment freely.

One day, I brought one of my father’s drawings to kindergarten and shared it with my classmates. When they praised the painting, I realized for the first time that art could connect people and create happiness beyond the moment it was made. That experience stayed with me, and it shaped my desire to become an artist who can bring joy to others, just as my father once brought joy to me.

Q: Can you describe the creative process behind your work and what motivates you to create?

Pei-Ling:My life has brought me face-to-face with sea turtles many times, sparking a deep-seated passion for their protection. This piece is my response to the struggles of marine species that are often harmed by human activity. Through this painting, I aim to provide a visual plea for a healthier ocean and a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Q: What was the most exciting or challenging part of creating the work you submitted to the competition?

Pei-Ling:The hardest part for me was definitely drawing the turtle because I really wanted it to look vivid and realistic. I spent a lot of time trying to get the details right so people could actually feel like it was a real living thing.

But honestly, the most exciting part was the background. I loved drawing all that trash “raining” down behind the turtle. It felt so cool to create that whole sense of space and depth just from my own head. I really liked the feeling of building this big, 3D world by myself to show how much junk is actually floating around in the ocean.

Q: How would you describe your creative style and the key characteristics that define your work?

Pei-Ling:I would say my style is all about making things look real but with a twist. I love the realistic look, like the texture of the turtle’s shell, because I want people to feel like they are actually underwater looking at it.

The main thing that defines my work is the connection to reality. I use art to show what is actually happening in the world right now and the real harm that people’s garbage causes to nature. I like taking something beautiful, like a sea turtle, and surrounding it with all this ugly, messy trash to create the contrast.

There are so many elements packed into each piece, including distinct types of plastic and varied textures of debris, to show the scale of the problem. My work is basically me trying to create a 3D space that tells a story about the planet, making sure people see the truth about the damage we are doing.

Q: What has been your experience participating in the competition? Were you satisfied with the process and results?

Pei-Ling:Participating in this competition was a transformative experience for me. It taught me that creating a truly impactful work of art requires an immense amount of dedication and effort. This was particularly true when I was working on the sea turtle and the “trash rain.” I spent many hours experimenting with different techniques, and I actually failed several times before I finally achieved the look I was aiming for.

As this was my first time participating in an international competition, the challenge pushed me to grow as an artist. Ultimately, I am incredibly happy with the results. Seeing the final piece come together made me realize that every moment of frustration and every failed attempt was worth it. I truly feel that all my effort has paid off, and I'm proud to have shared my message on such a significant stage.

Q: Where do you see the future of the art and design industry heading in the next 5–10 years?

Pei-Ling:In the next 5 to 10 years, AI will handle the manual labor of the creative process by executing complex rendering and automating repetitive tasks. Artists will move from being builders to being directors. With AI learning behaviors, it still cannot replicate the human experience that give art its meaning.

Because information technology is developing rapidly, artists can now share their work more easily than ever before. This digital shift means that more people can get in touch with art easily, making the creative world more inclusive.

Humans will focus on the conceptual and emotional weight of their work. A major part of this future will be using art as a platform for global challenges. I believe that people will express environmental issues through their work to inspire change. In this scenario, the artist’s primary role is to express the human heart. Since AI only knows what we have already done, humans is still the sole source of newness. Our value lies in the ability to connect with others through a shared humanity that no algorithm can build.