"It was then that the idea of an exhibition about the Silk Road came to me," he said. "I started to imagine an exhibition that would allow people to take a journey through photographs from one end of Eurasia, London where I live, to the other, Beijing. And on this journey they could explore some of the cultural wonders of the Silk Road, learning about its history and about some of the connections between different cultures that lie just beneath the surface that I had started to see myself."

Wilton-Steer wanted to "document photographically, the transitions between different countries and cultures" while exploring and understanding different cultures, and also revealing similarities and connections.

"I am particularly fascinated in traditional crafts so I try to seek out artisans and artisan communities wherever I travel. Their stories and the story of their craft often give interesting insights into a country or region's history," he said.