What’s On

James Ravilious: An English Eye

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New exhibition featuring the work of James Ravilious, photographer of rural life.

Our latest exhibition showcases a selection of work by James Ravilious, renowned photographer of rural life and one of Devon’s best-loved artists. The works have been chosen from the large retrospective show mounted for him by the Royal Photographic Society. This exhibition is on loan from the permanent collection of The Burton at Bideford.

James Ravilious (1939-1999) became well known for his black and white photography of Devon life and landscapes. The Beaford Arts Centre commissioned him to create a seventeen-year project for the Beaford Photographic Archive. Ultimately, the project was intended as a photographic record of a life in this largely unspoilt but vulnerable country area.

Ravilious took over 80,000 black and white images of works which include landscapes, studies of farmers at work, special occasions and ancient traditions. The archive is probably the most intensive record of any rural area in England.

See our coordinating programme of events:

Image credits:
Archie Parkhouse and Ivor Brock moving a sick ram, Dolton 1976, photograph by James Ravilious © Beaford Arts
Alf Pugsley moving a shed in case of flood, Langham, Dolton, Devon, 1978, photograph by James Ravilious © Beaford Arts digitally scanned from a Beaford Archive negative
Archie Parkhouse reminiscing in a wood, Addisford, Dolton, Devon, 1974, photograph by James Ravilious © Beaford Arts digitally scanned from a Beaford Archive negative

 

Gallery

Past Exhibitions (2025)

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    Open until 3pm on Christmas Eve! Present Makers 2025 features hand-crafted gift ideas showcasing the talent and innovation of contemporary craftspeople and design makers in the South West. From open submissions, entries…

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    Delve into ‘The Work of Giants!’, an immersive film installation exploring the mysteries of ancient landscapes and the imagined creators of monumental sites. The commissioned artists are a duo from Four…

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    Exhibition of work created by artists belonging to CAMP CIC (Contemporary Art Membership Platform) Where Are We Now? is a new exhibition by members of CAMP highlighting diverse work considering contemporary environmental…

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    Exhibition in the Upper Gallery showcasing the work of five artists participating in Devon Open Studios 2025: The exhibition is in collaboration with the Beehive, Honiton who is also exhibiting the…