Lowry described this painting as his most characteristic mill scene based on a pastel drawing he had produced around 191718 it does not depict a particular place but instead combines real and imaginary details which combine to form a classic lowry industrial landscape the lowry based in salford quays houses the worlds largest permanent collection of paintings and drawings by l s lowry about the artist laurence stephen lowry rba ra 1st november 1887 23rd february 1976 was born in s