Pauline Latham has welcomed the news that Derby artist, Paul Cummins is to receive an MBE in the 2015 New Years Honours List.
2014 saw the exhibition of Paul’s work ‘Bloodswept Lands and Seas of Red’ at the Tower of London. The installation, intended to commemorate the centenary of the First World War consisted of 888,246 handmade ceramic poppies, which covered the Tower’s moat until Armistice Day. Each poppy represented a soldier that fell in the conflict, and were later sold with the profits going to six armed forces charities.
Mrs Latham, MP for Mid Derbyshire said:
“I have known and worked with Paul many times over the years, and it is great that his extraordinary talent is being recognised in such a way. Paul’s career has been an interesting one, and last year, he gained acclaim through his ‘Bloodswept Lands and Seas of Red’ exhibition at the Tower of London.
The poppies attracted 4 million people to the Tower, and typified the commemoration of the Great War. It was a wonderful and thoughtful way to raise money and celebrate the lives of those that died in the conflict. This honour is richly deserved for all the hard work he has done to realise this amazing work. ”