AN exhibition of photographs from the Beaford Archive by James Ravilious is showing at Market House, The Devon Photography Gallery, l Pannier Market, Torrington from Saturday April 28 to Saturday June 23.

In the course of his work for the Beaford Photographic Archive, James Ravilious took thousands of photographs of the local farming community.

They record the landscape in all weathers — the buildings, the different types of crops and animals and above all the people — hard at work or enjoying themselves.

A whole way of life is revealed, set against the backdrop of the largely unspoiled countryside of North Devon. That tradition was changing even as he recorded it. The present farming crisis may accelerate the change, making James' record a precious piece of history.

James Ravilious was born in Eastbourne in 1939, the second son of Eric Ravilious, the celebrated artist and wood-engraver. He took up photography in 1972, inspired by the work of Henri Cartier Bresson.

At the same time he married a Devonian, Robin Whistler, and moved with her to Devon where he became photographer-in-residence at the Beaford Centre. Here he worked for the next 17 years recording in detail all aspects of life in the surrounding rural area.

He has exhibited throughout the West Country, in London, France and New York. The Royal Photographic Society mounted a large retrospective of the work in 1997 and made him an Honorary Member in recognition of his contribution to photography.

He and Robin have two children, Ben and Ella. He died of cancer in 1999.

This exhibition has been curated by Robin Ravilious and was planned both as a sample of the Beaford Archive and as a tribute to the people of North Devon, who welcomed James so warmly into their lives. Under the present terrible circumstances it is much more poignant than was intended.