Constable’s Boat-Building near Flatford Mill . Future technological development may enable us to reach for the stars, but we must make sure this does not occur at the expense of our natural environment. An example of the latter is ‘Constable Country’ in Suffolk, the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty where John Constable was born, and where he painted his most famous works. Many of these paintings feature activities occurring near the river Stour, such as those shown in Boat-Building near Flatford Mill , which was first exhibited in 1815. (Oil painting by the author.)