Alison Lapper's Art: Breaking Barriers and Inspiring Dreams

Alison Lapper is a self-taught artist from Worthing who creates her paintings using her mouth. Born with shortened legs and no arms, Alison has faced many challenges throughout her life. As a child, she was told she could not become an artist, but instead of giving up, this made her even more determined to succeed. Alison believes that anyone can achieve their dreams if they put their mind to it. She encourages others by saying, 'If you want to do something, put your mind to it. You can do anything. '

Alison became well-known when a marble statue of her was displayed in Trafalgar Square in London from 2005 to 2007. The statue showed Alison sitting with confidence and became a symbol of strength and determination. Now, Alison is presenting her latest artwork in a new exhibition, which features more than 100 paintings from artists in 35 different countries. This exhibition is being held to celebrate the 70th anniversary of an organization that supports disabled artists.

Alison's goal is to break down social barriers and change the way people think about disabled artists. She says, 'We are professionals at what we do and we are good. It's not about people coming to see our art because they feel sorry for us. The quality of our work speaks for itself. ' Alison explains that there are still many obstacles for disabled artists, such as the physical challenges of painting and moving around the studio. Having an electric wheelchair has helped her work on larger pieces. She also points out that some people wrongly believe disabled artists do not create their own work, but Alison wants to show that they are talented and independent.

Tom Yendell, the president of the International Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists, says the group has 720 members from 71 countries. He explains that the founder, Eric Stegmann, believed artists should not have to rely on charity. For 70 years, the group has focused on self-help, allowing artists to earn a living through their art. Tom describes the group as a big family, and the exhibition at the Royal Horticultural Hall in London gives artists a chance to meet and celebrate their achievements. Alison Lapper hopes her story will inspire others to overcome challenges and reach their full potential.