Vincent van Gogh was born to a well-to-do family in the Netherlands in 1853. In his lifelong search for employment and fame he travelled across Europe, from Ramsgate in England, to Arles in the South of France.

At the age of 20, Vincent moved to England to work at the London branch of the international art dealers Goupil & Cie. This is his first known address, in the London suburb of Stockwell.

In 1875, after being sacked by Goupil, Vincent returned briefly to his parents' house. However, he quickly found work as an assistant teacher at William Stokes' boarding school in Ramsgate, on the southern English coast - marked here with a blue plaque.

Vincent hadn't yet decided to become an artist, but on the 31 May 1876, he sent his brother Theo a quick sketch of this road.

By 1878, Vincent had moved between several towns, struggling to find work. He was now living in the mining village of Wasmes, Belgium, working as a preacher. In April 1879, wanting to learn about the miners' lives, he visited the Marcasse coal mine, seen here.