Richard Demarco Gallery – Art in Agriculture
Throughout the beautifully restored historic farmstead of Papple Steading, is a love of art. The vibrancy of nature that surrounds the Steading, from our seven-acre native wildflower meadow to the Papana water, is reflected in our Collection.
From painting, sculpture and print to photography and car design, interests in artisanal tradition, patterns of nature and the capturing of movement and energy are echoed throughout the collection.
Enjoy the Mackintosh art collection
Art is central to the Papple Steading experience, with more than 30 artworks thoughtfully integrated across the rooms, corridors and open spaces of Papple. Like the rich interiors of the restored Steading, the Collection combines an elegant mix of contemporary and period art. From 19th century portraits and land maps steeped in history, to vibrant photography and contemporary painting.
Beyond the buildings, large-scale site specific commissions are ready to be discovered in Papple Wood, including our six-foot-tall hare sculpture designed by Rosie Walton.
A space for art
Discover a burgeoning centre for Art in the heart of East Lothian.
From late 2025 onwards, we will have a programme of exhibitions and a number of events each year in our gallery spaces, garden and wildflower meadow beyond. Events will reflect the ethos of Art at Papple, exploring themes of sustainability, cultural heritage and history, playful experimentation and art’s connection to nature.
As the Gallery programme develops to include artist residencies, guests and visitors will be able to participate in a range of artist-led workshops and activities.
Enjoy the Mackintosh art collection in your own home
We are delighted to be able to offer a range of high quality art prints of works in our Collection. Our giclée art prints combine pigment-based inks with archival quality paper to achieve print colours that are guaranteed to last 100 years.
Papple in plans
Built heritage is an important aspect of Papple Steading, and we are fortunate to have a collection of original building plans that have guided our restoration of this beautiful farm. These fascinating documents include four first edition maps of the Haddingtonshire area from 1854 as well as site plans and building elevations by Francis Farquharson, a builder-come-architect who moved to Haddington in 1833.
Inspirational surroundings
Papple sits in the foothills of the Lammermuir Hills in East Lothian, a beautifully quiet landscape of broad undulating slopes of moorland. The rich colouring of heather and rolling hills have been an inspiration to many artists.
