Alison was born with phocomelia, meaning she has no arms and shortened legs, and uses her mouth to create her artwork.

Her career was tragically interrupted in 2019 when her son, Parys, died aged 19. He had developed severe mental health issues and died of an accidental overdose.

In this moving interview, Alison tells Emma Tracey why it’s taken her five years to start to process her grief and the exhibition she has put together about her son, called Lost in Parys. She also talks about the making of Alison Lapper: In My Own Words - a new BBC documentary about her life which you can watch on BBC iPlayer.

Presenter Emma Tracey

Producer Daniel Gordon

Mixed by Dave O’Neill

Editors: Beth Rose and Ben Mundy

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