This is one image from a new series inspired by my explorations of the Lea Valley, which runs along the banks of the River Lee, from Ware in Hertfordshire, through Essex and north east London, past the 2012 Olympic site to the Thames at Limehouse Basin. The lower Lea Valley is a particularly interesting area where nature seemingly thrives in the city, where tenacious wildlife lives amongst the detritus of modern life and plants ceaselessly reclaim land by growing through cracks in concrete and clinging to walls. The Lea Valley can claim centuries of fascinating history as well as the invention of the diode valve, Yardley's soap and India Pale Ale. Matchbox cars were made here until the 1980s. Bryant and May had a match-making factory in Newham, which was the site of the landmark matchgirls strike in 1888. The Monorail was invented in Lea in 1821. Carless, Capel and Leonard started making a product they named petrol in Hackney Wick in 1892. The Lea is where the first British commercially successful porcelain, Bow China, was produced and AV Roe became the first Briton to pilot an entirely British-built aircraft on Walthamstow Marsh in 1909. In 2005 Paul Kelly made a film in conjunction with British pop group Saint Etienne called 'What Have You Done Today, Mervyn Day'? which focused on the history and landscape of the Lower Lea Valley. It was made in the year that London won the Olympic bid, which ultimately changed what was a surreal wilderness into an area suitable for international visitors. Limited edition print of my original screen-printed and embroidered appliqué. 12 x 10 inches, with white border. Edition of 100 Signed, editioned, titled and dated on the front below the print Printed on 192g Epsom Archival Matte paper with Epsom inks Please note that colours may vary slightly due to different monitor displays Prints are centred onto card, wrapped in cellophane and layers of card and brown paper for transit.