Ashes to Art - the story
Elaine Murray - Painter specialising in abstract art and Ashes Memorial Art Creator
The idea of Ashes to Art came about when I was contacted by someone who loved my art work and wanted to commission a very piece - they said they had an unusual request.
They had lost their mother and asked if it was possible to have some ashes incorporated into a joyful memorial painting.
My mother, who had been a passionate painter in her younger years, passed in 2021. I had her ashes stored away and wanted to scatter them but part of me didn’t want to let all of her go.
I knew she would love the idea of me celebrating her in a beautiful piece of art in my home so I decided to explore this idea.
Having lost both of my parents, my biggest priority was to ensure that I had full knowledge of how to handle ashes in a respectful, knowledgeable way. I am an empath and I feel things very deeply. I would be handling the cremated remains of someone's precious person and I wanted to learn all I could before including them in a piece of art.
I worked a forensic laboratory to learn about the biochemistry and safe handling of ashes, understanding the scientific process of incorporating them into my work and developing a special stabilising agent to neutralise their very high PH levels.
This enabled me to handle ashes with science knowledge, honour and respect, allowing me to safeguard the quality of my work.
Establishing a relationship with the social enterprise Grief Specialists enabled me to fully understand the grief process and to better support my clients.
I then felt ready to make my first pieces of ashes art as a memorial to my mother – a simple white relief work heart accented in her favourite colours and a seascape to remind me of our time in Hawaii together.
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Ashes to Art was born!
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My work has received widespread media coverage and I receive interest in my work from around the world.
I specialise in respectfully creating beautiful one of a kind ashes memorial paintings and art to celebrate loved ones who have passed away, alongside my non memorial studio art.
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I would love to listen to your ideas to help create a beautiful piece for you.
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Elaine Murray x
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See my latest work on Instagram
The Artist
Elaine Murray - Artist
Art, in many forms, has always been a big beautiful part of my life, painting, writing stories and poems and taking pictures.
However I fell into a career working in the media. But a career break to volunteer on a remote Fijian desert island changed my life and led to me living in Hawaii for some years.
This idyllic paradise of colour, fire, sea and sky bought me back to art.
I now live beside the coast in glorious Devon in the UK. I paint sea and countryside inspired paintings alongside creating memorial art celebrating lost loved ones.
When I am not working in my studio, I can be found combing the beach for fossils or out paddle boarding and surfing with my daughter.
My art reflects my wanderlust, a love of the sea and the glorious countryside around me.
My work is on display at the beautiful Sou’ Sou’ West Contemporary Arts Gallery in Dorset and I am set to have an exhibition in Lyme Regis next year.
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Grief Support
Having lost both parents in recent years, I recognise the importance of signposting people to professional grief support. I want anyone grieving to know you don't have to go through it alone, or suffer in silence, there is support out there.
Feelings of grief are as unique as the feelings you had for the person who has died, and sometimes having that extra support can help you move beyond any pain you might be experiencing.
Grief Specialists is a social enterprise I'm proud to champion. There are lots of free articles and resources written by grief professionals to support people with any kind of loss. There is also a directory of specialists who are ready to provide immediate help to anyone who needs it. You don't need to wait. Visit www.griefspecialists.org to find out more.
