Swartz Brenton Nicholas

Brenton Nicholas SWARTZ was born on 30 October 1978 in Cape Town. Since a gunshot accident he is paralysed from the neck down. He spent eight months in hospital and was classified as a C4-C5 tetraplegic. He attended a school for the disabled. In 1998 he finished grade 12 and went to live in a home for tetraplegic people.

In 1999 he enrolled at college and studied computer-aided drawing. In December 2006 he received a state diploma as architectural draughtsman. He was fortunate enough to be able to work at an architect's office for 18 months and gain a lot of experience.

One of his friends who painted asked him whether he wanted to try it. In 2001 he started taking art lessons. His aim in life is to lead an independent, normal and happy life.