About | Paul Cummins MBE | Artist and Ceramicist

Drawing inspiration from both the natural world and his background in architecture Paul specialises in ceramics and metalwork.

Paul’s work is informed by a detailed understanding for aesthetic form and holds a commanding visual authority. When combined with the raw presence of steel and wire, his exuberant yet delicate ceramic flowers painted in vibrant glazes, deliver arresting results.

Paul is the man responsible for the large-scale installation ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’, which was made up of 888,246 handmade red ceramic poppies, one to represent every life lost at the Front during the First World War, at the Tower of London in 2014. This enormous artistic project was something that had never been seen before and was embraced by millions from across the globe.

Two key sculptural elements from ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’, Weeping Window and Wave, were preserved for the nation and then taken on tour across the UK by 1418-NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War Centenary. From Orkney to Yorkshire, Plymouth to Cardiff, Belfast to London and Manchester to Derby, the two sculptures were seen by over 4.5 million people at 19 locations from 2015 to November 2018. The sculptures became part of the IWM collections from November 2018.

Over the course of his career to date, Paul has also created installations for a number of prestigious venues and clientele, including works at the Duke of Devonshire’s Chatsworth House, the Derby Royal Hospital, Althorp Estate, Blenheim Palace, The Conran Shop, and the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015.

Installations

2010

April – September: Private Commission

Derby Royal Hospital

A series of hand thrown sgrafitto bowls on poles, temporary exhibition.

April – May: Floralia

Chatsworth House

As part of the annual event, Florabundance Paul created ceramic tulips to adorn the garden.

2011

July – August: Mixed Exhibition

Tregoning Contemporary

A mixed exhibition at the Tregoning Contemporary Summer Show.

August: Roses

Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire

A preview exhibition showing Paul’s display of 60 handmade roses.

September: Private Commission

Origin Contemporary Craft Fair

Spitalfields Market Installation of 200 ceramic bowls.

2012

English Country Garden, Unlimited

London Cultural Olympiad 2012

Paul’s quintessentially English flower garden was made up of 48,000 ceramic flowers in various forms. All the flowers Paul created for this installation were based on flowers native to the UK, and then displayed at great British locations, including:

- 25^th April – 27^th May: Chiswick House
  Bowl-shaped meadow flowers

- 11^th May – 1^st September: The Secret Gardens of Sandwich
  Roses

- 1^st June – 17^th September: Blenheim Palace
  Rod mounted Delphinium spears

- 4^th June – 26^th August: Houses of Parliament
  Roses and tulips on rods

- 1^st July – 31^st August: Castle Howard
  Roses

- 1^st July – 31^st August: Althorp Estate
  Sweet Peas

- 31^st August – 9^th September: Southbank Centre
  Painted bowls on rods

2014

June – November: Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red

HRP Tower of London

888,246 poppies were gradually displayed in the moat around the Tower of London, one for every British or Colonial life lost at the Front during the First World War.

‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ – poppies and original concept by artist Paul Cummins and installation designed by Tom Piper – by Paul Cummins Ceramics Limited in conjunction with Historic Royal Palaces.

2015

May: Candy

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015

Paul unveiled ‘Candy’, an eight-metre high copper sculpture covered in hand-painted black, white and coloured variegated ceramic tulips, to the public and Her Majesty The Queen.

Tour of Wave and Weeping Window

Two key sculptural elements from ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’, Wave and Weeping Window were purchased and gifted for the nation, embarking on a four-year tour by 14-18 NOW across the UK for audiences to see the sculptures re-imagined in new locations.

- 5^th September 2015– 10^th January 2016: Wave
  Yorkshire Sculpture Park

- 12^th September – 1^st November: Weeping Window
  Woodhorn Museum, Northumberland

- 7^th November 2015 – 17^th January 2016: Weeping Window
  St George’s Hall, Liverpool

2016

Tour of Wave and Weeping Window, cont.

- 22^nd April – 12^th June: Weeping Window
  St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall

- 28^th May – 4^th September: Wave
  Lincoln Castle

- 30^th June – 25^th September: Weeping Window
  The Black Watch Museum, Perth

- 12^th October – 20^th November: Weeping Window
  Caernarfon Castle

2017

Tour of Wave and Weeping Window, cont.

- 25^th March – 14^th May: Weeping Window
  Maritime Museum, Hull

- 12^th April – 25^th June: Wave
  The Barge Pier, Shoeburyness

- 9^th June – 23^rd July: Weeping Window
  The Silk Mill, Derby

- 8^th August – 24^th September: Weeping Window
  Y Senedd, The National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff

- 23^rd August – 19^th November: Wave
  CWGC Plymouth Naval Memorial

- 14^th October – 3^rd December: Weeping Window
  Ulster Museum, Belfast

September 2017: Where are the Poppies Now?

Ongoing Online Digital Map, wherearethepoppiesnow.org.uk

2018

Tour of Wave and Weeping Window, cont.

- ^14th March – 29^th April: Weeping Window
  Hereford Cathedral

- 13^th April – 24^th June: Wave
  Royal Armouries Fort Nelson, Fareham

- 23rd May – 8^thJuly: Weeping Window
  Carlisle Castle
- 2nd August – 16^thJuly: Weeping Window
  Middleport Pottery, Stoke-on-Trent

- 8^th September – 25^thNovember: Wave
  IWM North, Manchester

- ^5th October –18^thNovember: Weeping Window
  IWM London

Awards

2009

May: University of Derby Spotlight Degree Show

2014

December: MBE for services to Art and Commemoration, awarded by the HRH The Duke of Cambridge

2015

Hudson Heritage Special Award for ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’

Museum and Heritage Award for ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’

Awarded Key to the City of Derby

London First ‘Contribution to London’s Cultural Excellence’ Award for ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’

Honorary Master of the Arts from the University of Derby

Awarded Visiting Director of the Arts, University of Derby

Pro-tem Special Award for ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ at the Civic Trust Awards

Tourism Society Award 2015 for ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’

Colour Moment of the Year for ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ at the Dulux Let’s Colour Awards

South Bank Sky Arts Award for Visual Art for ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’

2014 Derby Civic Award

Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy by London Metropolitan University

Hero Award at the Help for Heroes Awards for ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’

Best British Cultural & Creative Innovation Award for ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ at the Walpole British Luxury Awards

About Paul Cummins

“I believe that art should be accessible to everyone” – Paul Cummins MBE

Installations

April – September: Private Commission

Derby Royal Hospital

April – May: Floralia

Chatsworth House

July – August: Mixed Exhibition

Tregoning Contemporary

August: Roses

Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire

September: Private Commission

Origin Contemporary Craft Fair

English Country Garden, Unlimited

London Cultural Olympiad 2012

25th April – 27th May: Chiswick House

11th May – 1st September: The Secret Gardens of Sandwich

1st June – 17th September: Blenheim Palace

4th June – 26th August: Houses of Parliament

1st July – 31st August: Castle Howard

1st July – 31st August: Althorp Estate

31st August – 9th September: Southbank Centre

June – November: Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red

HRP Tower of London

May: Candy

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015

Tour of Wave and Weeping Window

5th September 2015– 10th January 2016: Wave

12th September – 1st November: Weeping Window

7th November 2015 – 17th January 2016: Weeping Window

Tour of Wave and Weeping Window, cont.

22nd April – 12th June: Weeping Window

28th May – 4th September: Wave

30th June – 25th September: Weeping Window

12th October – 20th November: Weeping Window

Tour of Wave and Weeping Window, cont.

25th March – 14th May: Weeping Window

12th April – 25th June: Wave

9th June – 23rd July: Weeping Window

8th August – 24th September: Weeping Window

23rd August – 19th November: Wave

14th October – 3rd December: Weeping Window

September 2017: Where are the Poppies Now?

Ongoing Online Digital Map, wherearethepoppiesnow.org.uk

Tour of Wave and Weeping Window, cont.

14th March – 29th April: Weeping Window

13th April – 24th June: Wave

23rd May – 8th July: Weeping Window

2nd August – 16th July: Weeping Window

8th September – 25th November: Wave

5th October –18th November: Weeping Window

Awards

May: University of Derby Spotlight Degree Show

December: MBE for services to Art and Commemoration, awarded by the HRH The Duke of Cambridge

25^th April – 27^th May: Chiswick House

11^th May – 1^st September: The Secret Gardens of Sandwich

1^st June – 17^th September: Blenheim Palace

4^th June – 26^th August: Houses of Parliament

1^st July – 31^st August: Castle Howard

1^st July – 31^st August: Althorp Estate

31^st August – 9^th September: Southbank Centre

5^th September 2015– 10^th January 2016: Wave

12^th September – 1^st November: Weeping Window

7^th November 2015 – 17^th January 2016: Weeping Window

22^nd April – 12^th June: Weeping Window

28^th May – 4^th September: Wave

30^th June – 25^th September: Weeping Window

12^th October – 20^th November: Weeping Window

25^th March – 14^th May: Weeping Window

12^th April – 25^th June: Wave

9^th June – 23^rd July: Weeping Window

8^th August – 24^th September: Weeping Window

23^rd August – 19^th November: Wave

14^th October – 3^rd December: Weeping Window

^14th March – 29^th April: Weeping Window

13^th April – 24^th June: Wave

23rd May – 8^thJuly: Weeping Window

2nd August – 16^thJuly: Weeping Window

8^th September – 25^thNovember: Wave

^5th October –18^thNovember: Weeping Window