In the end I went another way. We added a template overtop of the existing icon as it seemed better than changing the code native to ui grid
.ui-grid-column-menu-button i{
color: white;
background: url("data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg version='1.1' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' xmlns:xlink='http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink' x='0px' y='0px' width='7.91px' height='13.412px' viewBox='0 0 7.91 13.412' enable-background='new 0 0 7.91 13.412' xml:space='preserve'><polyline fill='none' stroke='#FFFFFF' stroke-miterlimit='10' points='-690,-124 -697,-117 -703.969,-123.938 '/><polyline fill='none' stroke='#FFFFFF' stroke-miterlimit='10' points='-704.406,-134 -697.406,-141 -690.438,-134.062 '/><polygon fill='#FFFFFF' points='4.058,13.412 0.22,9.592 0.925,8.883 4.056,12 7.203,8.854 7.91,9.561 '/><polygon fill='#FFFFFF' points='0.707,4.56 0,3.853 3.853,0 7.69,3.821 6.985,4.53 3.854,1.413 '/></svg>");
background-position: 50% 85%;
background-repeat: no-repeat;
width: 100%;
}