Doreen is a Warlpiri woman from Willowra which is situated 250km North West of Alice Springs in Central Australia in the Northern Territory. She comes from a long line of very well known artists in her family with her mother Nora Long Napanangka and her sister Janet Long Nakamarra who is very active in the Aboriginal art community. The Nakamarra name is very well known throughout the Aboriginal art movement and they have made a significant mark in the development of the Contemporary Aboriginal art community.
Born in 1956 Doreen lived a very traditional life with her family on their homelands and immersed herself in her culture and learned all the traditional practices that are slowly disappearing. She is a respected elder and carries much of the traditional knowledge and stories of the Dreamtime that were handed down to her from her family.
Most of the subjects Doreen paints relate to women’s secret business and are depicting body painting to bush food to different areas in her homelands where they can find water and track animals.
Being a senior Warlpiri woman Doreen is an example to all the young girls in her community and has a big responsibility to share all the traditional stories and hand then down to the next generation in order for the story to continue on through time.