REPTON PREP & REPTON SCHOOL PUPILS COLLABORATE WITH RENOWNED CERAMIC ARTIST PAUL CUMMINS MBE

Pupils from Repton Prep and Repton School came together for a creative opportunity with world-renowned ceramic artist Paul Cummins MBE, celebrated globally for his iconic Tower of London poppy installation. 

In his first-ever school workshop in Derbyshire, Paul visited the Repton community to lead a hands-on ceramic art experience, inspiring pupils across both schools to explore their artistic potential through collaboration. 

Held at Repton Prep, the workshop involved prep and senior school pupils in a shared artistic experience. Each participant received a hand-crafted ceramic tulip – replicas of those featured in Paul’s dramatic Candy sculpture, which was exhibited at the Chelsea Flower Show. Under Paul’s guidance, pupils painted their own tulips, bringing vibrant individuality to the growing collaborative artwork. 

“This is my first school visit, and I couldn’t have asked for a more enthusiastic group of young artists,” said Paul. “Seeing pupils from different stages of their education work side by side has been a real privilege. I hope this experience stays with them.” 

During the day, pupils had the chance to hear Paul speak about his creative journey - from his early days in ceramics to his large-scale public art installations. He shared the story behind Candy, inspired by 17th-century Dutch tulipomania, and explained the emotional symbolism in the 2,300 individually painted tulips, some of which are patterned to mimic cancer cells affected by fungal distortions. 

Paul also discussed his unique process, including how he grows flowers to create his own natural pigments. Pupils were fascinated to learn how each of his ceramic tulips and poppies initially sold for £25–£35 and how some have since been resold for up to £20,000. 

Pupils from both schools said they found the workshop motivating and memorable. Rachel Chester, Head of Art at Repton Prep, said: “To see pupils from both the Prep and Senior schools working side by side with such an esteemed artist is something they’ll never forget. Working with Paul Cummins has been inspiring for all of us – we are so grateful for his time and generosity.” 

This special visit builds on a long-standing creative relationship between Paul Cummins and the Repton community. During the creation of his Tower of London installation, which featured 888,246 ceramic poppies representing fallen soldiers of the First World War, Repton Prep pupils were visited by members of Paul’s ceramics team and created their own commemorative display within the school grounds. 

The original poppy installation has since toured the UK, including a stop at The Museum of Making in Derby, before reaching audiences as far north as Orkney. 

At Repton, we believe in nurturing creativity at every stage of a pupil’s journey. Opportunities like this cross-school workshop with Paul Cummins reflect our commitment to delivering an exceptional arts education, enriched by real-world experiences and industry connections. If your child is passionate about the creative arts, we warmly invite you to discover more about life at Repton Prep and Repton School.