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Artist hopes photo contest boosts love for river

Louise Parry
BBC News, Luton
Abi Spendlove A close up of the River Lea, shallow and reflecting the light. It is bordered by green vegetation and a buddleia plantAbi Spendlove
People are invited to photograph the River Lea as part of an arts project

For many years it has been a neglected river where industrial waste and shopping trollies were dumped, but a photography project is hoping to shed new light on Luton's overlooked River Lea.

Artist Abi Spendlove has launched a competition to encourage more people to "connect" with the chalk stream.

"The river's foundational to our town, it's the reason Luton exists," she said. "I'm totally fascinated by it."

Abi Spendlove Abi Spendlove smiling at the camera in front of one of her artworks that has shades of blue representing water. She has golden long hair and wears large yellow earrings and an olive green short sleeved shirt dress.Abi Spendlove
Much of Abi Spendlove's artistic work is focussed on water

Ms Spendlove added: "Luton gets its name from there: Lea Town. I've been making artwork about the River Lea since I moved here about 15 years ago.

"One of the things I've learned from spending time at the river, is it changes all the time. I wanted to offer that experience to other people as well.

"In order to take part, people would have to physically go to the river themselves, and connect and engage with it."

The River Lea rises in Leagrave, Lewsey and Houghton Regis, flowing through Luton into Hertfordshire and onto London where it joins the River Thames.

Ms Spendlove said parts of the Luton section were in bad shape.

"There's an incredible amount of rubbish in the river even now. It's getting blown in but also dumped there, which is so sad," she said.

Abi Spendlove A narrow shallow stream running between stone walls in Luton, with old brick factories either side. There are shrubs cropping up out of the stone, mostly buddleias.Abi Spendlove
Abi Spendlove said many former factories used the River Lea "as a public drain" which led to it being covered over

The artist said people's relationship with the river had "really changed over the years".

"When Luton was a thriving town full of industry, a lot of factories backed onto it and threw their waste into it – dye works and glue works.

"It's not surprising that it was culverted (covered over): it was a smelly inconvenience."

She said recent campaigns had championed the river and enabled parts to be opened up, such as in the Hat Gardens.

"We're starting to see the river as a linear park running through town. There's hope more and more sections will be open."

Abi Spendlove Branches of a large tree reflected in the surface of the River Lea, and you can also see some green algy below the surfaceAbi Spendlove
An extract from one of four photos Abi Spendlove has taken of the River Lea

People of any age can submit photos of the river. They will be judged by a panel of industry professionals, with a prize of £100 for the winner.

"We particularly want to encourage people from marginalised communities to apply," said Ms Spendlove.

All entries will be included in a slideshow on YouTube as part of the project commissioned by Luton Borough Council and funded by the government's Shared Prosperity Fund.

Ms Spendlove has also taken four photos of the river and is inviting the public to vote for one to appear on the Guildford Street billboard.

"The more time you spend in green and blue spaces, the more you care about them. If you don't see something, it's not a problem, but if you engage with it then it's going to be on your radar and you'll want to see positive change.

"Our river is somewhere that should be celebrated," she added.

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