Behind and Beyond The Trigger

A remarkable new book celebrates the skill sets of the talented, passionate and dedicated community of people who play a vital role in maintaining rural life in Great Britain.

Behind and Beyond the Trigger, written by John Robinson with photographs by Annie Robinson and with a foreword by the Duke of Westminster, introduces the people who are at the centre of the rural economy in British culture and integral to sustaining our rural landscapes and thriving ecosystems.

They include deer stalkers and head keepers, farriers, saddlers, gundog breeders and butchers; makers of tweed, sticks, shotguns and leather goods; gunsmiths and gun engravers, and even a wildlife artist.

The book offers an in-depth look at the rich heritage of rural life, covering the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales, to the Scottish Highlands, and Devon, Somerset, Staffordshire and the Cotswolds.

John says: “There are many great characters involved within the industry, but behind every gun, there are probably around 50 people employed in some way – this book celebrates their remarkable talents and shows how important they all are to the rural economy.”

John Robinson is a shooting coach who volunteers for Mountain Rescue, a Nuffield Farming Scholar with a military background who has been involved one way or another with farming, wildlife and shooting all his life. A former Commonwealth and British Grand Prix gold medallist, he spent 20 years in the Great Britain and England shooting teams, latterly as England’s head coach, and he also spent 10 years in Team GB’s triathlon team.

Annie Robinson is an award-winning wildlife photographer who also specialises in photojournalism, portraits and landscapes.

Together they live on a farm teeming with wildlife on the edge of the Dalby Forest, near the North York Moors, with their self-employed fox terrier, Ted.

Behind and Beyond the Trigger is a limited edition 432-page hardback book in a slipcase with just 2,500 leather-bound, hand-numbered copies available. Each copy is signed by the author and photographer. Priced at £135, it’s published in association with Face Publications, whose other books include Glorious Game, a treasury of game recipes by top chefs including Tom Kerridge, Monica Galetti and Cyrus Todiwala.