Pauline Cumming: Showcase: Murder Most Foul

Pauline Cumming is a painter who makes ceramics. Her hand-rolled earthenware plates are intimate canvases for her narratives about women. She depicts strong females often inspired by classical paintings and explores themes of domesticity, motherhood and menopause.

The juxtaposition of the historical female and popular culture creates empathetic humour.

"My Murder Most Foul collection shows the pathos of women at the end of their tether with world politics, world leaders, menopause and husbands. From 17th century tinctures of mandrake, henbane and digitalis to the innocuous candlestick-bash-over-the-head and the clandestine "fits in your pocket" poison bottle, methods of murder are contemplated and executed.

Prithee, Where The Hell is My Husband is based on a portrait of Mary Queen of Scots in French court mourning dress lamenting the death of King Francis. It references the popular R&B hit by Raye and should resonate with women whose husbands are on the golf course, at the football, or who have not yet materialised from the Tinder app.

Sometimes violence is turned inwards.  In The Riposte of a Murderous Woman, Saint Lucy is said to have gouged out her own eyes to avoid meeting the gaze of her lusting but unwanted suitors. Now, enraged and with sight returned, she is ready to finish off anyone who gets on the wrong side of her. And In Happy in the Haze of a Drunken Hour, Morrisey's melancholic lyrics describe the hungover woman who has self-medicated to obliterate the approach of another absolute shit show."

Pauline's work, although tongue in cheek, heralds the feminist quest for equality and sisterhood, and is an uplifting message of women against tyranny, misogyny and madness.

Pauline Cumming was born in Edinburgh and studied drawing and painting at Edinburgh College of Art from 1981 to 1985. She spent six years living in the Netherlands and the influence of Delftware is seen in her colour palette of strong cobalt blue. She lived in Turkey for four years travelling between Istanbul and Kas. She worked in education for over 30 years, but took early retirement to concentrate on her art-work. She exhibits regularly in Edinburgh and East Lothian and has plates in the Aberdeen Gallery and Museum public collection.

Items cannot be reserved by placing in basket and they must be checked out
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Please note that all artworks purchased from this exhibition will be available for collection/delivery from July 21st 2026, this can be arranged after purchase with the gallery.

All works will be available to collect from the Gallery during normal opening hours, Tuesday-Friday 11am-5pm and Saturday 11am-2pm.

Alternatively, please see below for selected shipping quotes, insurance is included;

£60 for UK Shipping

£85 for Shipping to Europe

£130 for Shipping to America