PHOTOGRAPHIC portraits of a North Yorkshire village have the timelessness of cave paintings and the modernity of Instagram.

The place that photographer Lucy Saggers calls home will be the focus of a new photographic exhibition soon to open at Ryedale Folk Museum’s art gallery. Receiving critical praise, Lucy’s stunning photographs explore the relationships between people, community and place.

Of Life And Land shows selected works from Lucy’s ongoing documentary project set in Ampleforth. The “everyday” scenes in this exhibition have been taken over the last four years as part of a documentary project.

Lucy said: “My work seeks to shine a light on the sense of continuity that still exists in rural communities, and the way a piece of country is stitched into people’s lives despite today’s fast-changing times.”

From a young age, Lucy was drawn to the documentary photographs of James Ravilious and learned darkroom photography while at university.

Following a career in wildlife conservation and rural development, Lucy undertook a diploma in photography in 2012 and began documenting the landscape. Struck by the intricacies and connections in everyday community life, Lucy then turned her camera to capture the ordinary goings on in and around her village.

Lucy’s photograph Coconut Slice was highly commended at the Only In The North photographic competition held at the Bowes Museum last year and made the second round of the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Jennifer Smith, director of Ryedale Folk Museum, said: “Lucy’s work is captivating. Her photographs chart people’s stories and make you think about the ongoing strength and significance of community. I am delighted that the museum will host this exhibition. It reflects our own aspiration to tell the unique stories of people in the area.”

Of Life And Land is on show in yedale Folk Museum’s free to visit art gallery space from Saturday, February 10 to Sunday, March 25. The art gallery is open daily from 10am to 4pm. Lucy has received financial support from Ryedale District Council to produce a book to accompany the exhibition and be available to buy from the museum.