I could never paint my teenage son – until I lost him
British artist Alison Lapper never painted her son Parys in life, believing him ‘too beautiful’ to capture. But after his death, he began to appear in her canvasses.
British artist Alison Lapper never painted her son Parys in life, believing him ‘too beautiful’ to capture.
She and Parys were incredibly close. Alison was born with the rare condition phocomelia and was famously depicted naked and pregnant at a major London landmark by sculptor Marc Quinn. She’s faced prejudice and judgement throughout her life, including being told she could never have children.
Yet when Parys was born, Alison found countless adaptive ways to care for and raise him as a single mum. They came into the Outlook studio together in 2014 to talk to Jo Fidgen. Now, following Parys’s untimely death aged just 19, Jo catches up with Alison to talk about life without Parys and why she is finally painting her son.
If you've been affected by any of the issues in the programme and are seeking support, please go to befrienders.org
(Part 1 first broadcast in 2014)
(Photo: Alison Lapper; Credit: ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ/Chalk Productions/Harry Truman)
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