Exhibition chronicles Silk Road trip

Throughout his four-month journey, Wilton-Steer met dozens of artisans, from gondola makers in Venice and illuminators in Istanbul to metal workers in Isfahan, ceramicists in Samarkand, wood workers in Baltistan and calligraphers in Xi'an.

Wilton-Steer hopes his images can also raise awareness about craft heritage in modern society.

"Unfortunately, a lot of traditional craftsmanship is under threat from mass produced goods, increases in the cost of raw materials or simply changing tastes. As a result, many crafts and the knowledge that goes with them, which sometimes has been passed down through generations for hundreds or even thousands of years, are disappearing, which is tragic. These crafts connect us to our past and tells stories about who we are. I believe they have great value," he said.

With so many memories from his journey to choose from, he said Kyrgyzstan was one place that was very different to what he had imagined.