Fairly recently, I did a mixed media picture inspired by a row of derelict buildings I came across in the East End of London. Vallance Road was the address, and 'Vallance Road, E1' is the art. However, the good news is that they have been saved from demolition. Too important an architectural feature to let them become a grey block of offices. There is a great set of photos of the road as it is now, but also what it used to look like on the legendary Spitalfields Life blog here.

There was quite a lot of twitter chat after I shared my image, and somebody from San Francisco, USA has bought a print of it from me. East meets West. So, here's a link to my print shop, and a reminder of the work and the initial pencil drawing I did.

I've completed the first of what will hopefully become a series of personal work, based on derelict and forgotten buildings in London. Using the initial drawing (see below) I developed my transfer technique to create the outlines in oil paint. I then added colour with watercolour (it won't paint over the oil outlines), with a little bit of acrylic white for highlights. The method of essentially creating my own carbon paper was something I thought I'd invented whilst doing my degree. I only recently discovered that Paul Kleé was doing it years ago. It must be fate, good Karma - or a happy coincidence...

These empty shops are at the bottom of Vallance Road, East London, E1, just around the corner from Whitechapel station. I suspect they may be going through some form of refurbishment, and think they are fascinating. If you fancy seeing them yourself, hurry, as they are bound to become betting shops or gold exchanges very soon.