Born c.1939, Don attended the mission school at Yuendumu, was initiated near Haasts Bluff and later worked as a stockman and fencing contractor at the nearby stations of Narwietooma, Hamilton Downs and Napperby before marrying and moving to Papunya. He was taught to paint by Paddy Carroll , whom he knew from his days as a stockman and with whom he lived at Three Mile Bore, just outside Papunya, in the late 1970s. He painted steadily from that time and his work is included in many public and private collections. His wife Entalura is also an artist, one of the most senior women painting for the Papunya Tula company in the 1980s. His sister, Maggie Nungarrayi also a painter, resided at Mt Allan. The artist’s country from his mother’s side lies around Kerrinyarra – Mt Wedge. His uncle Mick Tjakamarra helped to raise Don after his father’s death. Their country included Winparrku. Don’s Dreaming subjects are Rainbow, Barking Spider, Possum, Eagle Hawk, Budgerigar, Wallaby, Witchetty Grub, Carpet Snake and Kangaroo. In 1986 he won the Alice Springs Art Prize.
- Writers:
- Johnson, Vivien
Note: primary biographer
- Date written:
- 1994
- Last updated:
- 2011
