What was intended to be a short term project became a seventeen year obsession for self-taught photographer James Ravilious. Inspired by the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson, the master of candid photography, Ravilious captured over 80,000 black and white images depicting the daily lives of North Devon’s inhabitants, just before it modernised. His photos reflect his deep admiration for the people he photographed and provide a glimpse into the real life of rural England in the late 20th century, showing long-standing country traditions that were still an integral part of everyday life.