Knotted hankies on the beach and an ability to queue whatever the situation – built-in Englishness is more than just tradition.

Back in the 1960s, photographer Tony Ray-Jones documented through photos how the nation lived, with more than a hint of tongue-in-cheek.

Between 1966 and 1969, he created a body of work that was both humorous and melancholy, and groundbreaking for its time.

In 1970, he met photography student Martin Parr and was inspired to create his own collection, the Non-Conformists.

Tony died at just 30 from leukaemia, but his short, prolific career had a lasting influence on British photography.

Almost 50 previously unseen works by him are to go on display at the Beaney House of Art & Knowledge in Canterbury in Only In England.

They will be shown alongside black and white photographs taken by Martin in the 1970s.

The exhibition draws from the Tony Ray-Jones archive, held by the National Media Museum.

Greg Hobson, curator of photographs at the museum, said: “The work will allow the viewer to trace an important trajectory through the history of British photography and present new ways of thinking about photographic histories through creative use of our collections.”

DETAILS

Only in England: Photographs by Tony Ray-Jones and Martin Parr is in the special exhibitions room at the Beaney House of Art & Knowledge in Canterbury from Saturday, July 9, to Sunday, September 25. There is no admission fee, but the museum operates a pay what you can scheme, with funds going towards staging future exhibitions.
The exhibition is staged with Media Space, a joint project between the Science
Museum and the National Media Museum in Bradford.