Tonio Mercieca was born in Valletta in 1962. He sustained a spinal cord injury rendering him permanently wheelchair bound at the age of 14. Soon after his injury he took up painting as an occupational therapy and found out that it was a useful tool to enable him lead a life that can sustain his self worth in society. Now Tonio has retired from work after 34 years in the public service and has taken up painting again and is self thought.