A Liverpool-based painter who began blending cremation ashes into acrylic landscape and still-life paintings after losing his cousin in 2024. Each commission starts with a consultation to understand the person and what they loved, with a small amount of ashes worked into the paint layers so the texture becomes part of the finished piece. Featured on BBC, genuinely new to Read more…
Art, Glass & Memorial Stones
Memorial art transforms a small portion of ashes into a genuinely unique, handcrafted piece. Glass art is the most established option. Skilled glassblowers fuse ashes directly into molten glass, creating one-of-a-kind paperweights, ornaments, sculpted animals or glass elements set within jewellery, each piece carrying its own natural swirl of colour and texture.
Memorial stones are a newer option and one most families have never heard of. Rather than displaying ashes in an urn, a specialist process forms them into smooth, solid stones that can be held in the hand, kept somewhere meaningful or shared between family members. Some studios create the stones from the ashes themselves, others incorporate ashes into hand-finished pieces such as pebbles, hearts, bowls and vases, many of which can be engraved.
Paintings and mixed media artwork offer another route, with some artists incorporating ashes into the paint or medium itself, creating a piece that can be displayed in the home as a lasting, visual tribute. Sculptural keepsakes in resin and other materials provide a further option for families wanting something tactile and permanent.
Below you’ll find UK artists, studios and specialists offering glass, painted, sculptural and stone memorial pieces, each with their own individual style.
How much ash is needed? Usually only a small amount. Most glass artists need a teaspoon or less. Memorial stone specialists typically use more, often up to around 50 grams, depending on how many stones are being made.
Do I have to send all of the ashes? No. Every provider in this category works with a portion, so the rest stays with you to keep, scatter or divide as you wish.
Will every piece look different? Yes. Ashes behave slightly differently in each firing or forming process, so every glass, art or stone piece is genuinely one of a kind.
Can a piece be commissioned to match a particular style or colour? Most artists offer a choice of colours and finishes, and many take bespoke commissions if you have something specific in mind.
Is the ash visible in the finished piece? This depends on the technique and the artist. Some pieces show visible flecks or swirls, while others blend the ashes more subtly into the material.
How do I know my loved one’s ashes are handled properly? Ask about chain of custody. The better studios log every set of ashes by name with a tracking reference at each stage, and will explain the process before you commit.