'Ruins and Monuments' Exhibition - 1st Aug - 31st October
Saturday 1st August 2026
Mines and Mining Landscapes of Devon and Cornwall
1st August – 31st October 2026
Tavistock Guildhall Heritage Centre
As part of Tavistock's programme of events marking the 20th anniversary of the town's inclusion within the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tavistock Guildhall Heritage Centre is proud to present 'Ruins and Monuments', an exhibition of mine photographs and paintings.
The exhibition forms part of a wider project that aims to visit former mining heartlands across the South West, celebrating their rich industrial heritage and distinctive landscapes.
Photographer Graham Warren has built up a diverse collection of mining images using a variety of cameras, including a traditional pinhole camera – a camera without a lens. Some of the equipment he uses is not far removed from the photographic technology available at the height of mining during the mid to late 19th century. The distinctive qualities of pinhole photography are particularly well suited to capturing the stark beauty and atmosphere of the mining remains. These evocative black and white images form the backbone of the exhibition.
Artist Duncan Rice uses drawings and sketches as the starting point for his paintings of mining landscapes. A landscape designer by profession, Duncan has a keen interest in the impact of mining on the landscape and how nature has gradually transformed these industrial remains into places of remarkable beauty and historical significance.
The exhibition will be on display in the Robing Room at Tavistock Guildhall Heritage Centre from 1st August to 31st October 2026. Admission is free, and visitors are welcome during the Guildhall's normal opening hours.
