On 21 October 1966, a coal tip collapsed above the village of Aberfan, engulfing Pantglas Junior School and nearby homes. The disaster killed 144 people, including 116 children. In the aftermath, artist William Richardson, who had no connection to the village, began creating portraits of the lost children, using school photographs and detailed descriptions provided by grieving parents.
"He saw it on the news and he was so moved by it, he decided to paint them," said his daughter, Jean. "He just wanted to give something back, to show he cared." Richardson never sought payment or recognition. Over the years, he is believed to have produced about 100 portraits.
For many families, the portraits brought comfort. "It brought her back to life," said Denise Morgan, whose younger sister Annette was among those killed. Jeanette Keane, who lost her sister Edwina, recalled her father's reaction: "I remember my father crying when the painting came. If they could have hugged it, they would have."
The portraits became part of daily life. "She was there at Christmas, at parties, always in the room," Denise said. "In our street, every house had one." Survivor Gaynor Madgwick said the portraits "start conversations. People begin talking about their children again."
Richardson worked from Llandudno, Conwy county, where he earned a living sketching visitors and celebrities on the pier. His children said parents would write to him describing their children's appearance and personalities. "He'd ask about their personalities, so he could build that into the painting," Jean said.
Now, as the generation directly affected by the disaster grows older, questions are emerging about what should happen to the portraits. Many remain in family homes, while some have been passed to younger generations. The BBC programme features families sharing their paintings and speaking about how the art helped them grieve.