North by East: Paul Furneaux exhibition at Drum Castle

Like the Irvine family, who occupied Drum for over 600 years – travelling in pursuit of artistic learning and collecting works from across Europe – Furneaux blends tradition with innovation, international techniques with deeply personal roots.

Known for his mastery of mokuhanga – the traditional Japanese woodblock printing technique – Paul Furneaux RSA creates layered, abstract works that echo the colours, shapes and textures of both Scottish and Japanese landscapes.

In spring 2023, Furneaux returned to Japan to walk the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, a vast, circular journey across the island’s mountainous interior. The experience, supported by the RSA Sir William Gillies Bequest Award, inspired a new body of work distilling the rhythm, repetition and stillness of the path. Several of these new pieces are included in the Drum Castle exhibition, offering a glimpse into a journey both physical and spiritual.

This is more than an exhibition. It’s a creative homecoming, decades in the making.

Laurie Cassell, Visitor Services Manager at Drum Castle, said: ’Paul’s return to the north-east feels like a natural fit. His art mirrors Drum’s own story – rooted in heritage but alive with new perspectives. This is contemporary art in conversation with centuries of creative tradition.’

A rare opportunity to see Furneaux’s work up close

Spanning over 20 years of practice, North by East brings together a personally curated collection of Furneaux’s works in Drum’s Long Gallery, a quiet, contemplative space at the heart of the castle.

Paul was born and brought up in Aberdeenshire, with his father, Jimmy Furneaux, a well-known and much-loved Aberdeen artist. Following his undergraduate and postgraduate studies at Edinburgh College of Art, he embarked on his Master’s in Mokuhanga from Tama Art University in Tokyo, travelling the country and mastering the ancient technique.

This is his first show in the north east region for many years after many successful exhibitions and collaborations, including the Royal Scottish Academy, Open Eye, Dovecot Studios and Tatha.

Professor Dorothy Williams, Exhibition Curator, said: ’It feels very special to have such a stunning collection selected by the artist for Drum Castle. Visitors will see landscapes shaped by Scotland, Norway and Japan – interpreted by a true master of mokuhanga.’

A historic setting with a creative legacy

Art has always had a place at Drum. For over 650 years, the Irvine family collected, commissioned and created works – many of which remain part of the castle’s permanent collection today – including paintings by Van Dyck, Raeburn, and family artists such as Hugh Irvine and Anna Forbes Irvine.

Art moves outdoors in Drum’s walled garden

Inspired by one of Furneaux’s abstract works, a striking new planting scheme has transformed part of Drum’s historic walled garden.

Designed by Laurie Daguin, Head Gardener at Drum Castle, the two bold beds anchor either side of a dramatic, geometric arbour, a bespoke structure crafted by local blacksmiths in response to Furneaux’s use of line and form.

The planting itself mirrors the artist’s palette, with layered blocks of yellow, grey, blue and black flowers, contrasted against hard landscaping in natural stone. Together, they offer a dynamic visual echo of Furneaux’s work and a contemporary counterpoint to the garden’s more traditional sections.

Laurie explained: ’Visitors will see an exciting dialogue between art and nature. The planting brings Paul’s vision to life in a completely different way, alive, seasonal, and grounded in place.’

Paul Furneaux: North by East runs daily until 31 October 2025. Artworks are available for sale, with each purchase helping support the Trust’s mission to care for Scotland’s heritage.

Book tickets for the exhibition.

Book tickets to a workshop at Drum Castle with Paul Furneax – Mokuhanga: the art of Japanese woodblock printing.