Dymphna Kerinauia Australian, Tiwi , b. 1960

Dymphna Kerinauia was born in the bush at Paru, Melville Island, on the Apsley Strait opposite the mission on Bathurst Island. Her mother was sister to Kitty Dymphna came to live at Milikapiti as a young girl, where  she married and raised a family. Dymphna Kerinauia is one of a large family of artists. She is the niece of the late highly acclaimed artist Kitty Kantilla (c. 1928 - 2003). In Tiwi culture, the daughter of a sibling is considered to be also one's own daughter.  Dymphna started painting at Jilamara in 2000 and was greatly influenced by watching an old lady, who would sit in her special chair in the same spot in the painting workshop every working day. "I used to sit with the old lady. Old lady would paint stories a lot about food, hunting. I paint body design, jilamara.  When I was little I learn from old lady when she was staying at Paru (small community on Melville Island).  She told me things, like she made cemetery pole for man and women. She made a dot then a line. She wanted me to learn too. Old lady used stick, but I now use brush." Her talent was recognised and encouraged by the art co-ordinator and she has developed her own unique style.