Previous work
$\bullet$ these systems have been studied by biologists and mathematicians to see what patterns may be formed.
$\bullet$ Andrew Witkin and Micheal Kass considered reaction-diffusion systems as a model for fingerprints.
$\bullet$ Many people have used reaction-diffusion derived algorithms to generate pretty pictures. You can get nice backgounds from The Wallpaper Machine by Roy Williams and Bruce Spears. Also Andrew Witkin and Micheal Kass won the Prix Ars Electronica 1992 for their picture 'RD Texture Buttons'.
$\bullet$ Greg Turk looks at generating textures using a cascade of multiple reaction-diffusion systems.
$\bullet$ Greg Turk also introduces a method by which the texture is generated directly over an arbitrary surface.