MEET THE MAKERS

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: ‘Untitled selection’ for ‘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

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)
  • Feb: Ash & Plumb Meets Owen Harvey (Photography Series)
  • Jan: 'Ash & Plumb Meets Wax London (Film)
  • Jan: 'Make it at Market' on BBC One in Episodes 8 & 15 (TV Mentorship)

2022

  • Dec: 'Xmas Craft Festival' at McBeans Orchids (Christmas Fair)
  • Jul: Ash & Plumb Meets Superga (Film)
  • Jun: 'Craft Festival' at Bovey Tracey (Fair)
  • May: 'Spring Fair' at Chelsea Barracks (Fair)
  • May: Panel talk with Crafts Council at Liberty London (Panel Talk)
  • Feb: 'Craft Festival' at Cheltenham (Fair)

2021

  • Sep: 'Beautiful & Useful' at Sussex Prairies (Fair)

SPECIAL COMMISSIONS

2025

  • Feb: Louise East Studio x Montcalm Hotel - Pendant & Wall Lights (Hotel)

2022

  • Feb: Tom Dixon x Pan Pacific for Devonshire House - Charred Wall Hanging (Hotel)

2021

  • Sep: 'The Portobello Project' for The Rumi Foundation - Series of 27 Dried Flower Vases (Installation)

PRESS

2026

  • Apr: 'Disturbed Imagination' feature on imperfections in 'Craft Works' by Robin Holt, published by Cambridge University

2025

  • Apr: 'Art or Craft?' feature in April '25 Issue 1 of The Collector, Country & Town House (Print Magazine)
  • Mar: 'Artist Profile' feature in March '25 Issue of House & Garden, UK (Print Magazine)

2024

  • Dec: 'Profile Preview' in DrechslerMagazin, Germany (Print Magazine)
  • Nov: 'Front Cover & Profile Feature' in Woodturning Magazine, UK (Print Magazine)
  • Oct: 'Woodturning on the Wild Side' for House & Home in Financial Times, UK (Print)
  • Mar: 'Ash & Plumb forms 14 objects from single lightning-struck oak’ - Review of Novus collection at Collect Art Fair 2024 in Dezeen, UK (Online)
  • Jan: ‘Forward Thinkers: Well turned out’ Profile Feature in Winter 2024 Issue for Milieu Magazine (Print)
  • Jan: 'Studio Feature' in Visitor's Guide for Collect Art Fair 2024, UK (Print)
  • 'Front Cover & Profile Feature' for LittleGalleryGuide, UK (Print)

2023

  • Dec: 'Capturing the Aura' in Vol. 43, No. 3 for Metalsmith Magazine, US
  • Aug: 'Front Cover & Profile Feature' in American Woodturner, US (Print)
  • Aug: 'Front Cover & Profile Feature' in Annual Review for QEST, UK (Print)
  • Jun: 'Artisan Profile' in Issue #23 of Country Living x Modern Rustic, UK (Print)
  • Apr: 'Ash & Plumb: a collision of the archaic and contemporary art at Flow Gallery' Exhibition Review on STIRPad, UK (Online)
  • Jan: 'Scholarship Announcement' in Woodturning Magazine, UK (Print)
  • Jan: 'Scholarship Announcement' in Sussex Life Magazine, UK (Print)

2022

  • Dec: 'Scholarship Announcement' in Quarterly Review of Turners Company of London, UK (Print)
  • Dec: 'Scholarship Announcement' in Quarterly Review of QEST, UK (Print)
  • Jun:/Jul: 'Artisan's Profile Feature' in Attitude Magazine, UK (Print)

2021

  • Nov: 'Profile Feature' in Sussex Prestige, UK (Print)
  • Nov: 'Product Feature' in The English Garden, UK (Print)
  • Oct: 'Front Cover & Artist Story' in Edition 3 of We Are Makers, UK (Print)
  • May: 'Launched in Lockdown' Profile Feature in Elle Decoration, UK (Print)

2020

  • Dec: 'Profile Feature' in Living Etc, UK (Print)