On today’s Raw Nerve, we present part one of an interview with Stephen Crawford, a Canberra-based artist and musician who lives with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Stephen shares with us his uniquely individual story – starting with his childhood in Scotland and moving to Australia in the 1980s – and many fascinating anecdotes, with his signature dark humour, resilience, and positivity.

Stephen creates artwork to help people understand what it’s like to live with MS. In this first part, Stephen talks through his recent MS diagnosis, the process he went through, and life with a chronic illness. He also discusses symptoms, the impact of MS on his career and day-to-day work, and other elements of his life, dealing with adversity and various humps along his journey.

No two people experience MS in the same way, and so too everyone finds strength in their own way, as Stephen’s story attests.

If you listen carefully, you will hear that Stephen is drawing throughout the conversation. Below, we have included some of his artworks.

In a future episode, Stephen discusses the intersection of MS and his art, as well as his plans for how he hopes to continue to educate and inform others.

This episode includes mentions of injuries, medical procedures, and some dark themes in the context of the interviewee’s unique life journey.

For helpful MS contacts in your local area, visit our Support and Services page and check out MS Australia’s new Lifestyle Guide for people living with MS.

Stephen Crawford’s Art