Paul Cummins MBE

British, b. 1977

Paul Cummins MBE is a ceramic installation artist from Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Cummins' reputation has grown exponentially thanks to a number of high-profile commissions, both nationally and internationally. He is well-known for his exuberant, organic flowers and bold, vibrant glazes which, combined with the raw presence of steel and wire, deliver arresting results.

Cummins started work as a maker of architectural models, before choosing to study ceramics at the University of Derby's College of Arts. Cummins, who suffers from colour associated dyslexia, was one of the artists commissioned by the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the UK Arts Councils and the British Council, to produce works for Unlimited, a programme celebrating disabled artists' work in the run up to and during the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. Cummins' vision was realised as The English Flower Garden, with public installations at six famous British residences that year. Each display featured different flowers associated with their respective site, including meadow blooms, roses, sweet peas and delphiniums.

In 2014, Cummins unveiled his internationally acclaimed Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, an installation of 888,246 red ceramic poppies displayed at The Tower of London from 17 July until 11 November, commemorating the 100^th anniversary of the start of the First World War. Each poppy represented a British military fatality during the First World War. The flowers encircled the iconic London landmark, creating a spectacular display as well as a site for personal reflection. Each poppy was progressively 'planted' from July by over 17,500 volunteers, until the last was placed on 11 November. During the making of the work, Cummins lost his middle finger and the use of his index finger after his hand was crushed in an industrial roller. Following the display, every poppy from the installation was sold, raising over £10,000,000 which was shared equally amongst six service charities. In recognition of the success of the work, Cummins was awarded an MBE in the 2015 New Year Honours, 'for services to art and First World War commemorations.' In 2015, Cummins also displayed at the Chelsea Flower Show. His installation, Candy, stood eight-metres tall and was made up of over 2,500 porcelain tulips in various colours, with the pattern inspired by a common gene of cancer. Proceeds from the sale of individual tulips went to charity.

Cummins’ work is informed by a detailed understanding of aesthetic form, and holds a commanding visual authority. After Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, the poppy installations Wave and Weeping Window travelled extensively to 19 different locations throughout the UK, and were seen by 4.6 million people. Both sculptural elements were purchased for the Imperial War Museums collections in Manchester and London respectively. In May 2025, to commemorate the 80^th anniversary of VE Day, Cummins’ installation was resurrected again at the Tower of London, in a highly symbolic display titled The Tower Remembers, featuring almost 30,000 of the original poppies on loan from the Imperial War Museums collection. Halcyon’s Summer Exhibition (2025) explores the power of colour and its perception, and includes a sculptural cascade of red ceramic poppies which echo the Tower of London installation. Cummins has also announced in 2025 that he is working on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s immersive Phantom of the Opera revival which will come to the stage in New York later in the year.

INSTALLATIONS AND EXHIBITIONS

2025 Summer Exhibition, Halcyon, London, UK

2025 The Tower Remembers, Tower of London, London, UK

2024 In Plain Sight, Halcyon, London, UK

2018 Weeping Window, Imperial War Museum, London, UK

2018 Wave, Imperial War Museum North, Manchester, UK

2018 Weeping Window, Middleport Pottery, Stoke-on-Trent, UK

2018 Weeping Window, Carlisle Castle, Carlisle, UK

2018 Wave, Royal Armouries Fort Nelson, Fareham, UK

2018 Weeping Window, Hereford Cathedral, Hereford, UK

2017 Weeping Window, Ulster Museum, Belfast, UK

2017 Wave, CWGG Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth, UK

2017 Weeping Window, Y Senedd, The National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff, UK

2017 Weeping Window, The Silk Mill, Derby, UK

2017 Wave, The Barge Pier, Shoeburyness, UK

2017 Weeping Window, Maritime Musuem, Hull, UK

2016 Weeping Window, Caernarfon Castle, Caernarfon, UK

2016 Weeping Window, The Black Watch Museum, Perth

2016 Wave, Lincoln Castle, Lincoln, UK

2016 Weeping Window, St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, UK

2015 Weeping Window, St George’s Hall, Liverpool, UK

2015 Weeping Window, Woodhorn Musuem, Northumberland, UK

2015 Wave, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield, UK

2015 Candy, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, London, UK

2014 Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, Tower of London, London, UK

2012 English Country Garden, Unlimited, Southbank Centre, London, UK

2012 English Country Garden, Unlimited, Althorp Estate, Northampton, UK

2012 English Country Garden, Unlimited, Castle Howard, York, UK

2012 English Country Garden, Unlimited, Houses of Parliament, London, UK

2012 English Country Garden, Unlimited, Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, UK

2012 English Country Garden, Unlimited, The Secret Gardens of Sandwich, Sandwich, UK

2012 English Country Garden, Unlimited, Chiswick House, London, UK

2011 Origin Contemporary Craft Fair, Spitalfields Market, London, UK

2011 Roses, Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire, UK

2011 Mixed Exhibition, Tregony Contemporary, St Mawes, Cornwall, UK

2010 Floralia, Chatsworth House, Bakewell, UK

2010 Derby Royal Hospital, Derby, UK

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