WHO’S left a crushed plastic bottle by the side of the lake? Before you call the litter police, pause for thought – because that’s exactly what this thought-provoking picture is designed to do.

The giant bottle has washed up on the shore of lovely Lake Geneva in Lausanne and it’s been painstakingly painted by French artist Saype, whose work I’ve featured in the blog before.

In between continuing his remarkable Beyond Walls project – creating a chain of helping hands around the globe – he stopped off in Switzerland to paint the first in a new series.

Read more: Giant hands stretching across the globe 

Although the overall concept has yet to be revealed, Saype has teased that the lakeside artwork, titled Trash, will be just the first step in what looks likely to be a new eco-awareness project.

“What a pleasure it is to come and paint in such a beautiful place that holds so much meaning for me!” the artist tells followers in his latest newsletter. “Here are the images from this first step.”

Thirty-four year-old Saype – real name Guillaume Legros – is best known for his ultra-realistic giant paintings, sprayed on the ground, using a biodegradable paint he invented himself.

Read more: Giant child’s lightbulb moment at solar farm

* Images: Saype. To see more of his amazing artwork head to the artist’s official website.