In his later years, Burra was taken on driving tours of Britain by his sister Anne. His landscapes were inspired by real places: in this case, a valley south of the Cheviot Hills near Alnwick. He said he was fascinated by the lines on the hills that play a dominant role in the painting. Such depictions of 'unspoilt' country were contrasted with images of motorways and heavy trucks, reflecting the artist's lament at the destruction of Britain. Others have found in such images suggestions of the human body, the rounded hills perhaps suggesting buttocks or breasts. August 2004 (http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/burra-valley-and-river-northumberland-t01756)