After having a car accident in 2003 that left me paralysed and in a wheelchair for life, my attitude was altered dramatically.
Initially I planned to study law, but due to this shift in consciousness and perspective I followed my heart. After a year of adapting to my new life in a chair, whilst studying art at foundation level, I was awarded an unconditional offer to study fine art at Goldsmiths University. In my first year I had my first art exhibition with Georgina Coleman Fine Art at the Lennox Gallery in Fulham. Since then I have had various exhibitions across the UK and continue to work and paint in my studio in Covent Garden.
Making art is a very cathartic exercise for me and much like the artists I admire my work is extremely subjective and personal. It centers on my experiences as a disabled person as well as a young woman and I think that, although I am only at the beginning of my life’s work, I will never stray far from content that although extremely personal, aims to open people's eyes and draw them in to learn more about me, my life and the unknown parallel world of disability as well as encouraging people to examine their own mentality. I split my work into two categories; commissioned portraits - in oil and charcoal - and my own work, which consists of mostly figurative paintings and blind drawings, which are ink line drawings, I imagine and draw with my eyes closed. One of my line drawings has recently won the North of the Wall Artists with a Disability Award, and ‘Christy Turlington’ was highly commended.
My love for learning has also led me on to study feminist philosophy, creative writing and Humanities English Literature Degree with the Open University. Independent learning has granted me the freedom to study while still balance my career as an artist and campaigner as well as pursue my dream of TV presenting and writing. I have seized two rare and incredible opportunities given by the BBC to take part in very contrasting but equally groundbreaking series. ‘Beyond Boundaries’, a month long expedition across Nicaragua in 2004 and ‘Britain’s Missing Top Model’ a six part reality show in 2008 focusing on disabled women, aspiring to challenge stereotype and break into the fashion industry.
I also approached BBC Horizons, with the idea for an in-depth look at stem cell research, and an investigation into overseas “miracle workers” who are claiming to offer disabled people “cures”. The hour documentary aired in October 2009 and has helped to raised awareness of some of the maverick healers and the dangers involved with treatment. It also gave me the amazing opportunity to meet the scientists that may one day be able to make me walk again. While I wouldn’t change a thing about my life, my disability has taught me so many important life lessons I feel privileged to see the world this way, but I still walk in my dreams and I think my subconscious will always sink into the ancient well of memory and draw contrast between my two realities.
But inner contentment is the most important thing in life and this has lead me onto create IMPERFECT. This exciting new project is aiming to help change perceptions of disability; inspiring confidence in young disabled people and acceptance and equality in society. For more information please see the IMPERFECT page.
I have recently been nominated for Young Disabled Person of the Year and am incredibly grateful and thankful, as this will really ameliorate my dream to instigate change. One way in which I am now manifesting this dream is in my most ambitious and exiting project, the launch of the Mannequal™. The Mannequal™ has been created to bridge one of the many gaps found in our society; the void that exists between disabled customers and the exclusive fashion world. Irritated by the lack of representation of disability on the high street I decided to create a product that would call an end to disability discrimination. The Mannequal™ evolved and is the first display product of its kind - a wheelchair for a mannequin. While it is essentially a display chair, the message of inclusivity that this will give to all customers cannot be underestimated. The topic of inclusivity within the fashion world has been increasing momentum and the benefits of a product such as the Mannequal™ I hope cannot be ignored. It will be showcased in Debenhams in July 2010, and I am excited to see where I manage to take it next! Please have a look at the Mannequal™ page for more information.
The Mannequal™ is also joining forces with Canadian Designer Izzy Camilleri’s ground breaking clothing label, ‘IZ’. This unique label, which I am proud to be spokesperson for, is the first adaptive clothing collection designed specifically for people who are seated. The transformed cuts of the collection have been created for the sitting position of a disabled person, which not only follows the line of the body, but also eliminates fabric bulk from front, sides and back. The designs were created with both function and fashion in mind. Please visit http://www.izadaptive.com for more information.
Thank you for visiting my site; I also have a blog that I update regularly, just click the link above to access it.
Love Sophie xx