AN ARTISAN exhibition celebrating the best that Dartmoor has to offer has been lovingly created by a local apprentice and former Tavistock College student.

Savannah Jones, 22, is an apprentice at Dartmoor National Park Authority who lives in Mill Hill, near Tavistock who spent months creating the new Dartmoor Range exhibition ‘Putting the art in Dartmoor’. The exhibition runs until August 12 at Dartmoor National Park Visitor Centre in Princetown and features ten local artists.

Savannah spent four months visiting each artist — discovering the origins of their business, the processes to achieve their final product and how Dartmoor plays a part in their craft.

‘I found that by undertaking the interviews first, I could get a sense of their character and what makes them stand out,’ said Savannah. ‘The interviews then formed what I would focus on in the photoshoot.’

The Dartmoor Range includes HK White, Twool, Lily Warne, Dartmoor Chilli Farm, Anna Curnow, Josephine Collingwood, Blackaller Honey and Clare’s Preserves.

‘This project was a particular challenge for me, not only because I’ve never done portrait photography before, but also because I am quite introverted. Despite this, I really enjoyed getting to know the artisans, finding out about their backgrounds and motives for their business.

‘I also loved capturing the quirky details in their processes, such as Clare (Clare’s Preserves) checking the sugar content in her marmalade through a tiny silver tool, or Yuli’s [Bellacouche] technique for felting her burial shrouds.

‘It was these things that made it so enjoyable for me, and I think it shows in my final work.’

Savannah, who studied BA filmmaking and creative media at UWE Bristol, said: ‘I always wanted a career in the creative industry, although it took me a while to pinpoint exactly where in this industry I wanted to be.

‘Just before my final year of university, I volunteered at several National Trust offices — Dartmoor and Lake District — taking photos and video for marketing purposes.

‘I loved it so much that I focused my final year of study on the use of digital media in conservation organisations.

‘My main career goal going forwards is to work closely with digital developments and find out how they can help in the wider conservation efforts for our natural landscapes and cultural heritage.’

The exhibition is open daily from 10am to 5pm.