Client
Lowther Castle
An Immersive Exhibition Experience
Since opening to the public in 2012, Lowther Castle & Gardens has become a popular visitor destination in the Lake District and the Northwest, renowned for its unique blend of historical and natural beauty. Lowther Castle delights visitors with its dramatic ruins, beautiful gardens, exhibitions in the stables, and an adventure playground that offers fun for the entire family.
We are proud to have maintained a longstanding partnership with Lowther Castle & Gardens, delivering signage solutions that complement the unique appeal of the attraction. We were delighted at the opportunity to work with them again on their latest exhibition. "We decided it was time to give the exhibition a fresh look, to bring it up to date, to create a new showcase for some newly acquired objects," said Charlotte Fairbairn, Creative Director at Lowther Castle & Gardens, reflecting on the need for revitalising the exhibition.
The Brief
Lowther Castle approached our team with a significant undertaking — the creation of exhibition signage for 'The Story of Lowther Exhibition'. This exhibition was designed to be an immersive experience that showcases the fascinating history of the Lowther family, incorporating displays of paintings, antiques, and family heirlooms, each narrating the rich heritage of the family throughout the ages.
The primary challenge was ensuring that the signage effectively brought the historical experience to life. The design concept presented by the client featured rich golds and blacks, aimed at creating a luxurious, atmospheric experience. Our task was to collaborate closely with the client, advising on and implementing signage solutions that would not only meet but enhance the storytelling impact of the exhibition.
Our Approach: A Blend of Exhibition Signage Solutions
We collaborated closely with Charlotte Fairbairn, Creative Director at Lowther Castle and Cosima Dinkel, Senior Creative at Playne Design. Our goal was to ensure that the exhibition signage solutions matched the depth and intricacy of the design concepts. Utilising the highest quality materials for banners, signs, and wall graphics was essential to achieving this.
Grand Wall Graphics
Upon entering the exhibition, visitors are immediately immersed in 'The Story of Lowther' through a large Turner painting reproduced and installed by our team. Charlotte highlighted the ambition behind the installations: "We wanted to take the image of a Turner painting and cover an entire room with it. We wanted to hang banners on the diagonal and make sure that they were not easily damaged."
In 'The Houses of Lowther' section, this room aimed to recreate the castle's 19th-century interiors. We achieved this by applying graphics to 2mm PETG, which were specifically designed to fit the curved areas of the exhibition's grand display. This setup effectively transformed these spaces into detailed dioramas, showcasing the original living quarters of Lowther Castle.
Charlotte Fairbairn, Creative Director, Lowther Castle & Gardens
We – the whole Lowther team – were fairly uncompromising in what we wanted to achieve... Maurice Oliver in particular and the Reeds team in general rose magnificently. There was no sucking in of breath or 'ooo we can’t do that.' There was no 'you must be mad, that’s never been tried before.' Throughout the project, all we encountered was a can-do approach. This is so refreshing and made the process as much of a pleasure as a relatively pressurised process can be.
Black and Gold
Shimmering gold was a key element of the concept. The exhibition begins with grand gold panels, sourced by Lowther Castle. We collaborated with the client to develop a creative framework, configuring these panels into an impressive freestanding display. Gold is incorporated throughout the entire exhibition, including in the wall vinyl graphics which feature intricate line drawings of Lowther antiques in 'The Treasures of Lowther' room.
Large typographical elements were crafted to guide visitors, with the text contour cut from a special Gold Metallic 3M Di-Noc Architectural Vinyl material. It was paramount that each detail harmoniously complemented the overall concept of the exhibition.
Recycled Materials
In discussing the materials used, Charlotte emphasised sustainability, "The estate is immersed in a ‘Natural Land Management’ philosophy – so everything we printed should be where possible on sustainable if not natural materials."
Throughout the exhibition, we printed profiles and informational panels on Xanita board—a robust material with a fully recycled cardboard core. This choice provided a tactile, natural finish that stands out against the wall.
Cosima Dinkel, Senior Creative at Playne Design
The Reeds team were excellent at interpreting our creative brief and problem-solving what was an ambitious and unconventional project. They always went the extra mile in sourcing and suggesting unusual materials. It was an excellent collaborative process – the team understood the impression we were trying to create and were helpful with suggestions so we could achieve our ambitions. They were always willing to produce samples and suggest improvements. Nothing was too much trouble.
We would definitely recommend Reeds. They were helpful and supportive and true collaborators.
The Gardens of Lowther
One of the exhibition's most unique features is 'The Gardens of Lowther' section. Set in a narrow corridor, the display uses acrylic panels mounted on scaffolding to narrate the garden's history through photographs, handwritten notes, and scans of paintings and drawings. Using this transparent material for the signage allows the historical architecture—imperfect brickwork and all—to peek through, adding an authentic touch to the storytelling.
Our collaboration on "The Story of Lowther" exhibition at Lowther Castle highlights our commitment to enhancing visitor engagement through innovative signage solutions. The project’s success was evident in the seamless integration of design elements that complemented the historical narrative and architecture of the castle. Utilising high-quality materials, in collaboration with Lowther, we were able to create an immersive experience that honours the rich legacy of Lowther Castle.
"Jim & Vanessa Lowther, owners of Lowther Castle, are delighted with the exhibition. So too, so far, are our visitors," Charlotte concluded, underscoring the success of the project.
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