Sophie Morgan

The story

Sophie lived with her parents and brother in Sussex until recently, but a craving for more independence led her to move into her own flat in the heart of London's Covent Garden.

When she was eighteen years old, Sophie was in a car accident the day after receiving her A-level results. She broke her back, which means that she's paralyzed from the chest down and will always use a wheelchair.

Sophie loves travelling. Less than a year after her accident, she trekked across Nicaragua with the BBC's Beyond Boundaries series. She's also been to the States and Canada, and recently spent a month in Thailand with her younger brother.

Sophie completed an art foundation course at the University of Brighton, and is now continuing her studies at Goldsmiths College in London. She feels that her disability gave her a good attitude adjustment, because before her accident she was planning to study law instead of art, which has always been her true love.

The skills

Sophie has done a bit of modelling for various art projects. She believes that being a good model is all about personality, and her personality shines through any camera lens.

The attitude

• Carefree - Sophie loves the beach and BBQs, and spends time driving around the country in her Volkswagen camper van.

• Plucky - Having been chucked out of school in England, Sophie was sent to Gordonstoun boarding school in Scotland, where she took full advantage of all the travel opportunities as well as pursuing her love of sports.

• Creative - Sophie has a showcase for her art in Notting Hill, London, where she has sold some of her paintings. She finds painting to be great therapy and often uses disability as a focus for her work. You can see more of her art online at sophiemorgan.com.