Andy Hughes, who learned to surf in South Wales in 1985, was profoundly impacted by encountering sewage and contaminated waters, shaping his artistic journey. His multidisciplinary practice spans photography, painting, sculpture, film, and digital media. Notably, he was an early and dedicated member of Surfers Against Sewage.

Body Boarder, Costa De Caparica, Portugal,  1990

The groundbreaking book "Dominant Wave Theory," published in 2006 by Booth Clibborn Editions (London) and Abrams Books (New York), marked a pivotal moment as one of the first photographic monographs dedicated to plastic pollution. It played a crucial role in early efforts to 'raise awareness' about the environmental impact of plastic waste.

Sandwich Wrapper, Porthmeor Beach, 2004

During the initial COVID lockdown, Andy Hughes conceived the project Red Weed, drawing inspiration from H.G. Wells's novel "The War of the Worlds." In Wells's narrative, an advanced but ailing alien race introduced a peculiar plant known as the red creeper or red weed, which proliferated rapidly upon contact with water, inundating the landscape and obstructing waterways.

Red Creeper, Porthtowan Beach, Cornwall, 2020

Andy Hughes engages in collaborations with various creative and arts organizations, academic institutions, charities, and NGOs. 

Gapado AiR workshop, Gapado Island, South Korea, 2022

Andy Hughes' monumental Plastic Scoop examines the relationship between virtual environments and ecological issues though the filter of GTA V. Plastic Scoop mixes images from the videogame with found footage and archival moving image.

Dominant Wave Theory explores the detritus and plastic garbage washed up on the shores where Hughes surfed.  By photographing everyday products in such an environment, Hughes attempted to draw attention to the small scale, the unseen, and the pollutants of modern industrial consumerist  society.

The book was designed by the revolutionary American designer David Carson