Colouring outside the lines: This artist with cerebral palsy defies convention
Tjili’s bravery has taken the world by storm. Despite being deaf and abandoned on a hospital doorstep as a baby, she continues to paint the world in the brightest colours.
Tjili Grant Wetherill had almost every imaginable odd stacked against her. Born prematurely, she was the only survivor of triplets abandoned at a hospital in Cambodia. The infant spent weeks in intensive care. Doctors discovered that she was profoundly deaf and diagnosed her with cerebral palsy. Her prognosis was poor – they predicted she might never be able to stand, walk, or feed herself. So how did she grow up to become an internationally celebrated artist?
Adopted as a baby by British couple James and Vik Grant Wetherill, Tjili’s new parents showered her with care and ensured she received the best treatment. While she underwent occupational and physiotherapy, she regained her movement through sheer determination. Tjili taught herself to walk, and today she’s able to swim and ride horses. Though she can’t speak, the 19-year-old expresses herself as an artist. Gripping pens and paintbrushes in her palm, she unleashes her imagination. Her sketches and paintings of wildlife, characters, and landscapes are in high demand for their whimsical lines and ethereal shades.
Tjili’s work has been selected for exhibition by the Royal Watercolour Society and even features on Tanzania’s national stamps. Sold on her website, TJILI, her art has fetched thousands of pounds which the family has used to support charitable causes. “She’s tremendous,” James says. “We’re very proud of everything she’s achieved.” For this artist, each piece is a symbol of overcoming.
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