Barnaby Ash and Dru Plumb are the duo behind Ash & Plumb, a British wood-turning studio dedicated to sculptural vessels that bridge ancient archetypes and contemporary craft. From their rural workshop in the South Downs, they work almost exclusively with sustainably sourced, unseasoned oak, turning each piece from a single block of wood. As the vessels dry, the timber naturally shifts, creating cracks and fissures that are embraced rather than hidden, often repaired with Ash & Plumb’s distinctive stitched detailing. The result is work that feels both grounded in ritual and alive with modern invention.
Their practice is shaped by extensive research into archetypal forms—from Neolithic pottery and Greek amphorae to 17th-century bronzes—reinterpreted through a raw, minimal aesthetic. Exploring ideas of balance between light and dark, masculine and feminine, permanence and change, their vessels resonate with quiet power. Exhibited internationally, including at Homo Faber in Venice and Collect at Somerset House, they embody art, design and storytelling in equal measure.
