Start applying the adhesive in a bottom corner about 1 tile length away from the bottom and side of the wall leaving space for the edge tiles.
How to tile a wall that is not plumb.
Spread thinset mortar on the bottom center of the wall.
If installed plumb and square the finished tile work.
The back of the tile should be flush with the wall.
Use tile spacers if necessary to keep the tile lines straight in the layout.
Use no tiles less than half wide along the outside of your tile field any tile slivers tiles that are less than half the width of the tile itself will markedly show the out of plumb wall.
The horrible gap between this ceramic tile and the wall is not normal.
Scoop out a golf ball sized amount of adhesive onto a notched trowel and spread enough adhesive in a thin layer over the wall to hang 2 3 tiles at a time.
If the walls were not too far out of wack you can use the thin set mortar or there are special patching mortars for going over the hardibacker board as long as it isn t applied too thick.