Llewellyn Summers was born in Christchurch in 1947 and attended Linwood High School. A self-trained artist, Summers held his first exhibition in 1971, and became a full time sculptor in 1977. He has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the BNZ Art Award in 1984, the BP Art Award in 1989, and the Arts Excellence Awards in 1997.
Summers' work is represented in numerous collections throughout New Zealand, including the BNZ Bank Art Collection, the Christchurch City Council Collection, the Lincoln University Collection, Sarjeant Gallery, and the Waikato Museum of Art and History.