Artist Uses Cremation Ashes to Create Memorial Art for the Bereaved

A Liverpool artist is creating personalised memorial paintings using a small amount of cremation ashes, offering families a deeply personal way to remember loved ones.

Gary Harper incorporates ashes into his paint to produce bespoke artworks designed to reflect a person’s character, memories and the places or passions that mattered most to them. He works closely with families to shape each piece, using colour, symbolism and landscape to tell an individual story.

Harper said the process allows someone to be physically and emotionally present within a work of art created in their honour, turning grief into a lasting tribute. Each painting is intended to feel like a celebration of life rather than a traditional memorial.

The idea grew from his work in mental health support, where he used art as a therapeutic tool. After the death of a cousin, he began exploring alternative ways to commemorate loved ones and carefully developed a method of blending ashes into paint in a respectful and meaningful way.

Since launching the project, Harper has completed a number of private commissions. He said families have responded with strong emotion, describing the artworks as a source of comfort, connection and closeness long after their loss.