Photograph by Greta Zabulyte
Photographs by Diana Hurley
Chalk Wanderings
March – August 2026
Hat Works, Bute Street, Luton
This exhibition showcases artworks inspired by Luton’s Chalk landscape, shown alongside maps and factual information.
Luton’s chalk landscape is globally rare. The distribution of chalk across the surface of the Earth is mostly concentrated in the South East of England and Northern France. The ecological habitats created by chalk landscapes are more rare than tropical rainforests and coral reefs.
Luton’s chalk was created during the Cretaceous period, 84-99 million years ago. These soft, white limestones were later lifted and sculpted by erosion over millions of years, particularly during the last Ice Age around 2.6 million years ago. This was when the glacial landscape, which formed the Lea Valley was formed. The chalk beneath Luton is part of the Chiltern Hills, created when the area was covered by a warm, shallow tropical sea.
Chalk Wanderings is a project designed by Luton-based artist Abi Spendlove. During the project Abi has worked with a number of community groups, sharing stories of Luton’s chalk and encouraging people to draw with it.
This project is an Evolution project, part of the Luton Create Fund. The Luton Create Fund is funded by Luton Arts, Arts Council England, Luton Rising and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, managed by BLCF.
Special thanks to collaborative partners: The Wildlife Trust BCN, Culture Trust, Timothy Crombie, Luton Literature, St Matthew’s Primary School, Luton Health & Nature Partnership, Revolution Fitness