DOCTORS DID NOT EXPECT HIM TO REACH HIS FIRST BIRTHDAY — NOW, AT 31, HIS ART IS OPENING NEW DOORS

When Colin Hanssen was a baby, his family received devastating news: doctors did not expect him to survive until his first birthday. More than three decades later, the Western Australian man is not only defying that early prognosis but also discovering a remarkable way to share his experiences with the world.

At 31, Colin has become a prolific abstract artist, using his wheelchair, his right hand and a vivid mixture of colours to create paintings that are attracting attention from galleries across Western Australia.

A Childhood Marked by an Uncertain Future

Colin was born with cerebral palsy and is largely non-verbal. His mother, Wendy Hanssen, recalled being told by a neurosurgeon that her son was unlikely to live beyond infancy.

But Colin reached his first birthday. Then came another year, and another. Today, his family is celebrating not just how far he has come, but the creative possibilities that have emerged in his adult life.

Finding a Voice Through Painting

Colin’s artistic journey began only six months ago during an art therapy class. His family soon realised that painting could offer him a powerful new form of self-expression.

Working in his rural Albany studio, he uses his wheelchair and right hand to move paint across surfaces, blending earthy and vibrant tones into abstract compositions.

His creative process combines physical movement and painting, making the act of creating the work an important part of the art itself.

His First Exhibition Draws Attention

Despite being relatively new to painting, Colin was selected to participate in the 2026 Southern Art and Craft Trail, an event showcasing artists across regional Western Australia.

His exhibition introduced visitors to artwork shaped by his personal experiences, including time spent living in Africa.

Art therapist Serena McLaughlan, who has supported Colin since he began painting and helped curate the exhibition, said visitors had been drawn to both the artworks and the distinctive process behind them.

From a Rural Studio to Perth Galleries

Following the exhibition, Colin’s family began looking towards a larger opportunity.

According to his mother, artists associated with two different Perth galleries have already expressed interest in exhibiting his work.

The family now hopes to develop a new series of paintings that could introduce Colin’s creative vision to audiences in the city.

A Story Still Being Written

Colin’s journey is about more than surviving an uncertain medical prognosis. It is also about finding a meaningful way to communicate, create and participate in a wider artistic community.

After discovering painting just six months ago, he has already completed his first exhibition and attracted interest from professional galleries.

At 31, an entirely new chapter of his life is beginning — one told through movement, colour and art.

Source: ABC News Australia, October 11, 2026. Reporting by Rachel Jennings and Mark Bennett.