Grayson Perry, Jean Jullien, and Aida Muluneh choose the finalists for WaterAid's Art of Change

Artists from across 44 countries "tapped into their creativity" ('Scuse the pun) to produce pieces linked to the theme of water and health to help WaterAid drive change and transform lives. The panel of judges has chosen 12 favourites, shortlisted from 285 entries, and are now inviting the rest of us to decide on the winner.

Voting ends on 10 October 2020, and the winning masterpiece will be announced on Global Handwashing Day on 15 October and presented to governments to urge world leaders to double their investment in water and hygiene in response to the Covid-19 crisis.

The shortlisted artists have interpreted the importance of clean water and good hygiene, exploring a variety of themes from "togetherness" and "community" to "handwashing and hygiene". A water deity and a woman wearing a necklace made of beads of water are among the 12 final striking designs.

Mulenga Mulenga from Zambia, whose thought-provoking collage, A Puzzle That Can Be Solved, is among the finalists, said: "Hand washing is the first line of defence against Covid-19 yet 785 million people have no access to clean water worldwide. Women and children are the most vulnerable because, in most households, they travel long distances to access clean water. As a result, this has caused a lot of health problems and social-economical challenges. A tap, a borehole can save a life, especially the most vulnerable."

While Jess Mountfield from the UK said of her artwork, Turn on The Tap: "I drew this while sitting with my grandfather, who was dying of suspected coronavirus. His whole life was about positivity and kindness. I want people to look at this image and feel empowered, uplifted, and positive about the future and our potential. Things don't have to be as they are - we really can enact change. And it is our duty to do so."

Grayson Perry adds: "WaterAid's campaign is a great way for artists from around the world to unite and use their creative skills to highlight the importance of everyone having the basics of clean water and hygiene and the vast inequalities that exist as we tackle a shared crisis."

To vote for your favourite artwork, visit www.art.wateraid.org. Votes close at 23.59 on 10 October 2020.