^ Alan Parnell mowing the lawn next to the Twelve Apostles, by James Ravilious, c. 1975
James Ravilious (1939 – 1999), the quintessential photographer of modern rural life, is best known for his work in North Devon, in association with Beaford Arts Centre – Beaford, originally set up by Dartington Trust though now a separate autonomous organisation. This year we celebrate what would have been 50 years of Ravilious’s career as a photographer, with recognition of the international significance of the collection of the collection of his work at Beaford and a symposium on Ravilious and Chris Chapman taking place at RAMM next month. We thought we would complement this celebration with a curated digital gallery of some of Ravilious’s photos from the Dartington archive.
Ravilious, second son of the painter Eric, visited Dartington in the 1970s and ‘80s. He was commissioned by Dartington trustee John Lane to document the various rural regeneration projects that were being trialled here as well as capturing a snapshot of education activities at the school and Dartington College of Arts (now replaced by Dartington Arts School), and staff at the Trust. The result is an intriguing cross section of this place, defined by many of the people who made Dartington what it was at that time. It also showcases a photographer at the height of his powers, finding in the most unlikely subjects – a woman at an administrative desk, some mill workers playing cards, bellringers at the shops – something to arrest and intrigue the eye.
His vivid sense of character, his respect for the significance of community, as well as an unrivalled knack for capturing the unpretentious beauty of everyday life made Ravilious the perfect person to capture life at Dartington. These qualities shine through in so many of the photos in our archive, which number several hundred in total. We hope this digital showcase goes some way to bring renewed appreciation for his artistic contribution and further the conversation about his work and rural photography more broadly.
Curated by Will Kemp, with thanks to Kevin Mount for his archival support.
Permission for use given to Dartington Trust by James Ravilious for all the photos in this collection, digitised from negatives in the Dartington Archive.
Orchard Theatre in a production of Johnny Appleseed performed at Foundation Day, c. 1975.
Mary Bride Nicholson, Records Manager and Curator, showing parts of the collection in the Morning Room, in the Elmhirst Centre at Dartington, with four unidentified people in the background. (1986)
Ⓒ James Ravilious
Drama students of Dartington College of Arts (1986). The College was renowned for the experimentalism it encouraged from its students, and here we see a paired down, characterful student performance. The recently reborn Arts School here offers a postgraduate degree MA Reimagining Performance Practice, steeped in the same ethos while exploring performance as a mode of public engagement and regeneration for now and for the future.
Ⓒ James Ravilious
Staff take a break at Staverton Joinery (1986). The joinery was initially set up in Staverton for the restoration of Dartington Hall from 1923, and by the time this picture was taken it had established itself as a leading design-led manufacturer of office furniture. For more info visit the Staverton website.
Ⓒ James Ravilious
A child tries out a mask in the toy shop at the Cider Press Centre, Dartington.
Ⓒ James Ravilious
The Music Department at Dartington College had a unique Japanese strand, the focus of this image, which features Reiko Iwamoto in the foreground playing the koto with the composer Frank Denyer (left). Also in the shot is Reiko’s husband Yoshikazu Iwamoto, a shakuhachi flute virtuoso, who was artist in residence, under the patronage of Trust chairman Maurice Ash, and leader of the Japanese course. (1986)
The Dartington estate continues to be flooded with music every year with the prestigious Summer School of Music, which entered its 72nd year this year, attracting some of the world’s leading performers and composers.
Ⓒ James Ravilious
John West (right) is interrupted by an (as yet) unidentified person in his Central offices at Dartington and Co., a trading arm of the Dartington Hall Trust. (1986)
Ⓒ James Ravilious
The vegetarian resaturant chain Cranks, seen as a pioneer of the vegetarian movement in the UK, had a premises at the Cider Press Centre, Dartington, up until 2016. Today, the Trust takes inspiration from pioneering food movements, growing as much food as possible on the estate to feed our students, and providing any surplus to public eateries The Green Table Cafe and the White Hart pub.
Ⓒ James Ravilious
Christmas bellringing at the Cider Press Centre given by Dartington College of Arts music students. (1986)
Ⓒ James Ravilious
Students on the Arts Access course at the Devon Centre for Further Education, in Aller Park. The course made it possible for people to retrain mid-career for higher education in visual arts. (1986)
Ⓒ James Ravilious
