Artist's Secret World: Decades of Art Unseen

For six decades, artist Ray Exworth meticulously crafted an extraordinary body of sculpture, almost entirely unseen by the public. These vast, obsessive constructions remained hidden within a labyrinth of sheds on his remote Cornish smallholding until his death in 2015 at age 84. Exworth's only major exhibition occurred in 1975.

Photographer Jem Southam's new book, "Ray's Sheds," provides unprecedented access to Exworth's stunning work. Southam believes only about 20 people have ever seen inside the sheds, which are filled with intricate and ambitious pieces assembled from salvaged materials. The book documents an exceptional art practice that may never otherwise have seen the light of day.

Exworth, influenced by his father's craft skills, created detailed replicas of childhood memories, including a one-to-one lead sculpture of his family's rebuilt garden. His prolific output filled seven studio sheds and shipping containers, with works like the "circus shed" featuring life-size figures crafted from diverse materials over a decade.

Southam's decade-long project to photograph Exworth's work began after the artist's death, with his wife Susie's permission. Initially shooting with a digital camera, he later used a large-format Victorian camera to capture the immersive feeling of being within the dense spaces. The book includes around 60 pictures and personal accounts, aiming to preserve Exworth's legacy and introduce his unique contribution to 20th-century British art.