Exhibition shows Fountains Abbey’s natural and man-made beauty
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Last updated Apr 25, 2022
Fallen tree at Studley Royal
One of the images from Joe Cornish's exhibition.

Stunning images that capture the force, beauty and intricacy of nature at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Deer Park have gone on display.

The exhibition by renowned landscape photographer Joe Cornish, titled Still Time to Wonder, runs until October at the World Heritage Site near Ripon.

His photographs, taken in all seasons and weather conditions, explore the tactile beauty of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, including periods when the the site was in coronavirus lockdown.

Snow storm at Fountains Abbey

The raw force of nature is captured in this snow storm photograph by Joe Cornish.


Mr Cornish’s work can be found at Fountains Mill and the follies throughout the water garden and a free exhibition map can be obtained at entrances.

The map will guide visitors on a journey that, through his lens, illustrates how both man and nature have sculpted the landscape.

From the elegant manicured surroundings of the water garden created in the early 18th century by the Aislabie family, to the naturally-formed designs found in fallen trees around the site.

The Temple of Piety Fountains Abbey

The Temple of Piety is one of the exhibition locations.


In addition to the exhibition map, a trail has been created for children, which aims to engage their imaginations by encouraging them to explore  the whimsical themes in Mr Cornish’s work, such as hunting for hidden weather-beaten faces found in the bark of trees.

The Fallen series focuses on a number of trees which have a powerfully sculptural quality. The title given to this aspect of the exhibition, acknowledges the on-going job they do, providing a refuge for many species of tiny creatures, fungi and microbial life. 

Faces in the bark

The children’s trail encourages young people to look for faces in the bark of trees.


Exhibition locations

The Temple of Piety features four photographs exploring the reverence of some of the mature trees that can be found on the estate, while Fountains Mill is the location for images taken at moments rarely seen by visitors. captured at dawn, in twilight and the chaos and of a snowstorm.

Joe Cornish, Photographer

Root and branch – the photographs of Joe Cornish feature some of the extraordinary trees at Fountains Abbey and the Studley Royal Deer Park.


Within the ornate alcoves of the Banqueting House there are two large-scale panoramic photographs of the sweeping views in the water garden and the Octagon Tower is the venue where visitors can  view a series of six photographs themed ‘The Fallen’.

These provide a close-up look at the shapes that nature formed over centuries, on trees felled by storms and other incidents, that remain in situ and provide a wildlife habitat for many different varieties  of creatures.


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