RSS Press releases

The Scottish Furniture Makers Association, in partnership with Scottish Forestry and the Association of Scottish Hardwood Sawmillers present Ash Rise, an exhibition of new work from 20 of Scotland’s leading and emerging makers using wood from Scottish ash trees.

The exhibition and a documentary film were launched in September last year, at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh to tell the story of this beautiful tree, its historic and contemporary brilliance as a material and the challenges of ash die-back. The exhibition showcases new pieces of furniture and works of art and craft specially commissioned for Ash Rise.

All the pieces are either made using timber from ash trees or have in some way been inspired by the trees themselves or the environment in which they grew. The ash trees for this project were sourced from Killearn Home Farm in Stirlingshire and were all felled as a result of being affected by the dieback disease. 

Councillor Maureen Johnstone, Chair of the council’s Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing Committee said:

“It’s wonderful to see the amazing, beautiful things that can be made from ash. From modern interpretations of traditional Scottish furniture and technically ambitious pieces to designs that use all parts of the tree alongside artworks highlighting the value, life and importance of Scottish Ash.”

Exhibition project coordinator and furniture maker Tom Addy commented:  

“Ash Rise is a culmination of a three-year project which started with the idea of highlighting how precious this resource is in Scotland whilst also showcasing the skills and creativity of the furniture making and design community. We’re delighted to be able to tour this exhibition to Edinburgh, Dumfries and Inverness to bring the story of Scottish Ash to as wide an audience as possible. Education is a key part of this project which is why the Ash Rise film was commissioned to reach even more people educating the viewer in the historical and cultural importance of the material and the skills used to turn a tree into finished piece.”

The selection panel were hugely impressed by the submissions and the final 20 selected showcase designs that both honour the wood’s unique properties and highlight the importance of awareness of ash dieback.

Ash is one of our most versatile woods. When dried it is light, flexible and strong and does not easily splinter. For centuries, it was crafted into longbows, wooden handles for tools, agricultural implements and wheels for carts; and before the invention of man-made materials, it was used to make tennis rackets, hockey sticks and cricket bats. Today ash continues to be used for the internal frame of the famous Morgan sports car. As well as its practical qualities, its distinctive grain makes ash an ideal wood for furniture and objects such as spoons, bowls, candlesticks and caskets.

Councillor Lynne Davis, vice-chair of the Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing Committee at the council said:

“I am really looking forward to welcoming this exhibition to Gracefield. It is something we feel privileged to host and is a great way to kick off the 2025 exhibitions. The art produced by our talented young people is always inspiring and engaging – congratulations to everyone involved for bringing this work to the gallery.

See www.DGCulture.co.uk for full details of hands-on workshops, film screenings, talks and events happening throughout the exhibition.