Andrew Thomas Crummy (born 14 November 1959) is a Scottish artist, who has designed several major works such as the ''

Great Tapestry of Scotland The Great Tapestry of Scotland is one of the world's largest community arts projects, hand stitched by 1,000 people from across Scotland. It is made up of 160 linen panels and 300 miles of wool – enough to stretch the entire length of Scotland ...

'' (2013).

Early life and education

Crummy was born in

Craigmillar Craigmillar (from Gaelic ''Creag a' Mhaol Àird'', "rock of the bare summit") is an area of Edinburgh, Scotland, about south east of the city centre, with Duddingston to the north and Newcraighall to the east. History Despite the relati ...

, Edinburgh, where his mother

Helen Crummy Helen Crummy MBE (10 May 1920 – 11 July 2011) was a founder of the Craigmillar Festival Society, and served as the Organising Secretary for the group until 1985. Biography Helen Crummy was born in Leith, Helen Murray Prentice. She became on ...

was a community activist and founder of the

Craigmillar Festival Society The Craigmillar Festival Society (CFS) was a community arts organisation in the Craigmillar area of Edinburgh, Scotland, that ran from 1962 to 2002. It is regarded as an important contributor to the Community Arts Movement. Many of its producti ...

. He attended

Portobello High School Portobello High School is a large secondary school in Portobello, Edinburgh, Portobello in the east of Edinburgh. With over 1400 pupils it is one of the largest state schools in Edinburgh and Scotland. The current headteacher, as of 2024, is Greg ...

and then gained a B.A. (Hons) in Illustration and Printmaking, at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art (1983) and an M.A. in design at

Glasgow School of Art The Glasgow School of Art (GSA; ) is a higher education art school based in Glasgow, Scotland, offering undergraduate degrees, post-graduate awards (both taught and research-led), and PhDs in architecture, fine art, and design. These are all awa ...

(1984). He attributes his artistic nature to his culturally rich childhood, and his immersion in the community arts scene and the Craigmillar Festival. His work includes tapestry, murals, illustration, sculpture and painting.

Major works and art style

*''Tapestry of Renfrewshire'' *'' Prestonpans Tapestry'' (2010) *''

'' (2013) *''

Scottish Diaspora Tapestry The Scottish Diaspora Tapestry () is a large embroidery, in length, crafted from 305 panels that were embroidered in 34 countries. It was the second major tapestry project to have originated from the Prestoungrange Arts Festival in Prestonpans, ...

'' (2014) *'' Gordon Highlanders WW1 Tapestry'' (2015) *'' Mount Felix Tapestry'' (2017) *'' Declaration of Arbroath Tapestry'' (2020) *'' Clackmannanshire Tapestry'' (2022) *'' Dundee Tapestry'' (2024)

Honours

Andrew Crummy was appointed as a

Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

in the

2023 New Year Honours The 2023 New Year Honours are appointments by some of the 15 Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Honours are awarded as part of the New Year celebratio ...

for services to art and to cultural heritage in Scotland. Crummy was awarded an

honorary degree An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or '' ad hon ...

by the

University of Dundee The University of Dundee is a public research university based in Dundee, Scotland. It was founded as a university college in 1881 with a donation from the prominent Baxter family of textile manufacturers. The institution was, for most of its ...

on 22 June 2023, in recognition of "his outstanding work in illustrating Scotland’s history, culture and heritage through magnificent community art works such as the Great Tapestry of Scotland and the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry". In the same year, he was awarded the

Saltire Society The Saltire Society is a membership organisation which aims to promote the understanding of the culture and heritage of Scotland, founded in 1936. The society organises lectures and publishes pamphlets, and presents a series of awards in the fiel ...

's Fletcher of Saltoun Award, given to "innovators and entrepreneurs who shape the cultural landscape of Scotland" in the field of "Public Life".

References

External links

* 1959 births Living people Alumni of the University of Dundee Alumni of the Glasgow School of Art Artists from Edinburgh British textile artists 20th-century Scottish male artists 21st-century Scottish male artists British embroiderers Members of the Order of the British Empire {{Scotland-artist-stub