Ash & Plumb is the creative partnership of Barnaby Ash and Dru Plumb, dedicated to the art of sculptural wooden vessels. Drawing from ancient and classical forms, their work reimagines tradition through a contemporary, raw aesthetic.
Based in the South Downs, just outside Brighton, their rural workshop is both a sanctuary and a creative foundation—a space where traditional and modern craftsmanship intersect to honour the natural beauty of wood. Each vessel is hand-turned and shaped from a single piece of sustainably sourced, unseasoned oak, allowing the organic characteristics of the material to shape the final form. Their work is deeply rooted in timeless archetypal forms that evoke a sense of grounding and ritual, each piece a balance of masculine and feminine, light and dark.
Barnaby and Dru first met while working in the fashion industry—Barnaby as a men’s fashion editor and Dru in PR, marketing, and events. Seeking a more hands-on creative path, they left their careers and moved to Dru’s home country of Australia, immersing themselves in the landscapes of the southern hemisphere while exploring new creative possibilities. Their journey took them through various roles, from Barnaby building bike trails to Dru working in financial tech, before ultimately leading them back to the UK to establish their studio.
Their artistic practice is deeply rooted in research, drawing inspiration from historical forms—ranging from Neolithic pottery and Greek and Roman wine vessels to 17th-century bronzes. They seek to honour the enduring essence of these objects, reinterpreting them through contemporary craft to breathe new life into the ancient.
Each creation begins with raw, unseasoned oak, which is hand-shaped into an intricate vessel before being left to dry—a process through which the wood subtly alters its own geometry. The surface is then meticulously refined, patinated, and finished, with any natural fissures or imperfections treated using Ash & Plumb’s signature stitched repairs.
2024 brought many milestones, including showcases at Collect Open, Eye of the Collector, and Homo Faber. In addition, Barnaby was awarded the QEST x Turners’ Company of London scholarship in Autumn 2022, a pivotal moment that further deepened his expertise in the craft. Looking ahead, Ash & Plumb continue to evolve their practice, with new exhibitions, collaborations, and bespoke commissions shaping an exciting year in 2025.
EXHIBITIONS
2026
Sep: ‘Echoes of Piranesi’ at Homo Faber 2026, Venice, Italy (International Art Fair) Jun: Chalice III for ‘Holding Space’ by AAW, NC, USA (Group Exhibition)
Jun: ‘US Debut Collection’ at Matthew Ames Gallery, Berkshires, USA (Solo Presentation)
Jun: ‘Front Cover Artist Showcase’ for ROSA Magazine x Sussex Craft Week, Arundel (Group Presentation)
May-Sep: ‘The Art of Welcoming’ by QEST x Mayfair Design District at Mandarin Oriental Hotel, London (Group Exhibition)
May: ‘Lascivia Astus’ at TEFAF New York with Sarah Myerscough Gallery, New York (International Art Fair)
May: ‘Untitled’ for Box of Dreams by Ella Fearon-Low & Jed Green at The Goldsmith’s Centre, London (Group Exhibition)
Jan: ‘Material & Maker’ at Gallery 57, Arundel, UK (Group Exhibition)
Jan: ‘Pentad II’ at FOG Design + Art - San Francisco (International Art Fair)
2025
Oct: Dovetail x Kit Kemp, Warren Street Hotel, New York, USA (Group Exhibition)
Oct: PAD London 2025 with Sarah Myerscough Gallery, London (Group Exhibition)
Oct: Wizardry in Wood for Turners Co of London at Plaisterer's Hall, London (Group Exhibition)
Oct: ‘Jewels for the Hall’ Goldsmiths Fair 2025 with Ella Fearon-Low (Collaborative Exhibition)
Sep: ‘Traces of Process’ at Maud & Mabel, London (Group Exhibition)
Jun: Sussex Craft Awards 2025, West Sussex (Group Exhibition)
May: Downtown Design with Helen Chislett Gallery, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Group Exhibition)
May: ‘Novus Collection Part II’ at The New Craftmaker for London Craft Week (Solo Exhibition)
May: 'Simple Life Vase' at The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh (Group Exhibition)
Feb: 'Resonant Forms' at The New Craftmaker, London (Group Exhibition)
2024
Nov: ‘Making Memories’ at Flow Gallery, London (Group Exhibition)
Sep: 'Journey of Life' at Homo Faber in Venice, Italy (Group Exhibition)
Jul: ‘Nothing Gold Can Stay’ at Maud & Mabel, London (Group Exhibition)
Jun: Eye of the Collector 2024, Garrison Chapel, London (Group Exhibition)
May: ‘Echoes’ at The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh (Solo Exhibition)
Feb/Mar: ‘Novus’ at Collect Open x Collect Art Fair, London (Solo Exhibition)
2023
Dec: ‘The Miniaturist Gallery’ at The Scottish Gallery (Group Exhibition)
Sep: ‘Unearthed’ at Gallery57 (Group Exhibition)
Sep: ‘Join. Assemble. Hold’ at The New Craftsmen x LDF 23 (Group Exhibition)
Sep: ‘every somewhere’ at Make Hauser & Wirth (Group Exhibition)
Jun: ‘Rhythm & Flow’ at Gallery57 (Group Exhibition)
Mar/Apr: ‘An Introduction to Ash & Plumb’ at Flow Gallery (Solo Exhibition)
2022
Sep: ‘Into the Woods’ at Watts Contemporary Gallery (Group Exhibition)
Apr: ‘The Gallery’ at Liberty London x Crafts Council (Group Exhibition)
Mar: Collect Art Fair 2022 for Design-Nation at Collect Art Fair (Group Exhibition)
Feb: ‘Our Journey’ for Design-Nation at The Hub, Sleaford (Group Exhibition)
2021
Dec: ‘Pinning our Hopes’ at The Scottish Gallery (Group Exhibition)
Nov/Dec: ‘Archetypes’ Debut Solo Show at The Scottish Gallery (Solo Exhibition)
Oct: ‘Multi-Talented’ for Design-Nation x London Craft Week (Online Exhibition)
Apr: ‘In the Grain’ at The Scottish Gallery (Group Exhibition)
MUSEUM ACQUISITIONS
2025
Feb: 'Amphora V' in private view by Brighton Museum for Contemporary Arts Society (CAS)
2024
Mar: 'Annulus' at Collect Open 2024 by National Museums of Scotland
AWARDS
2026
May: House & Garden Craft Prize for London Craft Week - Top 16 Finalist (Award)
2025
Sep: Sussex Craft Week - ROSA Award winner (Front Cover & Feature Story)
2024
Sep: QEST x Sanderson Rising Star - Top 6 Finalist (Grant)
2022
Sep: QEST x Turners Company of London Scholarship for Barnaby Ash (Scholarship)
Jun: 'Best New Business' at Craft Festival Bovey Tracey (Fair)
STUDIO COLLECTIONS
2025
Mar: ‘Amphorae’ Spring 2025 Collection
2024
Nov: Final 2024 Collection
Sep: Turned & Carved Collection
2023
Nov: Final 2023 Collection
Jun: 3rd Birthday Collection
Mar: Spring 2023 Collection
Jan: Early 2023 Capsule Collection
2022
Dec: Final 2022 Collection
Oct: Autumn 2022 Collection
Jun: Summer 2022 Collection
SPECIAL PROJECTS
2025
To be announce shortly (Feb 2025)
2024
Sep: Homo Faber for Michelangelo Foundation at Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice, Italy (International Fair)
2023
Sep: 'Anticuus' Pendant Lighting by Louise East Studio x The New Craftsmen (Collaboration)
Jun: 'Introduction to Ash & Plumb' by Beth Evans (Film)
Mar: Ash & Plumb Meets Dan Fontanelli (Photography Series)
