Meet the Artists

Alison Murray is a Girramay Traditional Owner of the Murray Upper area, near Cardwell, North Queensland.

Alison is a skilled ceramicist with an outstanding portfolio. Her pottery work consists of both traditional and modern designs, including Bagu sculptures, vases, jewellery, Bigin bowls, and, three-dimensional animals. Drawing from traditional stories, Alison’s strong connection to family, place, and heritage is manifested in the work she produces. Her eye for detail, and deep understanding of composition, colour, and pattern is evident in her award-winning creations.

Alison’s artwork has been acquired by the Parliament House Art Collection, National Maritime Museum and National Gallery of Victoria. Alison was most notably awarded the inaugural Emerging Artist Award by the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair. She was a finalist in the 2016 Shepparton Indigenous Ceramic Art Awards & Salon Des Refuses (Darwin). Alison has also created commissioned works for the Cairns Performing Art Centre.

Augustina is a young artist whose work shows signs of promise. She is a new artist working with a variety of mediums to discover the most suitable mediums and styles for her work. She is a member of the very creative Denham family who work with the art centre.

Charlotte Beeron is a Girramay Traditional Owner who lives in the Jumbun community, north of Cardwell in North Queensland. She works with sculptural forms and explores and references contemporary forms and imagery in the sculptural work she creates. Drawing on her cultural heritage she references the lives of her family, her children, and her environment.

Charlotte’s work is included in a number of private collections and is represented in the Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane. Most recently she was selected to create work for a permanent outdoor installation Bagu on the Foreshore in Cardwell as part of the Foreshore re-construction.

Chris Kennedy is a Girramay Traditional Owner from Mount Garnet in North Queensland. Chris has a really strong connection to place and heritage and draws from traditional stories for his inspiration. The “Murray Upper and Beyond” exhibition in 2009 at the Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre in Cardwell was the first time Chris has exhibited his work. A painting has been selected for “Girringun” at Gallery Smith in Melbourne later this month.

Clarence Kinjun is a Gulngay Traditional Owner of the Tully River area, one of the endangered Aboriginal communities with fewer than 25 people. He is an artist, a language speaker, a storyteller, and a well-known and respected maker of traditional objects such as shields, boomerangs, swords, and so on; objects which were traditionally made and painted by men. He is a holder of cultural knowledge and has a close connection to country. Clarence's grandfather was the last initiated man of the Tully River area. Clarence has been producing traditional objects for many years and they have been acquired by countless collectors over that time.

Daniel (Galaman) Beeron is a Girramay Traditional Owner of the Murray Upper area, near Cardwell, North Queensland. Daniel is an expert painter and weaver of Jawun cane baskets. He is also a gifted potter of Bagu and Bigin. Daniel first began working with ceramics in 2009.
True to his roots, he draws from his cultural heritage - evident in his use of traditional symbols and designs. His paintings feature soulful feather strokes in assorted tones. His sculptures, some standing over six feet tall, captivate audiences. Above all, the practice of weaving is especially meaningful to Daniel. Forward-thinking and adaptive, Daniel has also transferred his weaving skills over to unusual textiles, such as metal. He weaves for cultural continuum - to ensure that these precious methods survive throughout generations.
Daniel’s work is held in a number of collections. It was most recently acquired by the Australian Museum, Art Bank Collection, and the University of Queensland Art Museum.

Davina Harries lives in the Jumbun Community near Murray Falls, northwest of Cardwell, and works with Echo Creek Tourism as both an office worker and cultural tour guide.
Davina is an emerging painter and ceramicist. Her work is inspired by and has its origins in the traditions and environment of her rainforest Aboriginal ancestors.

Deborah Murray is a Jirrbal woman of the Davidson Falls Area. She is based in the Jumbun Aboriginal Community of the Murray Upper area, North-West of Cardwell, Queensland.
Deborah is an experienced painter and master traditional weaver of Mindi grass baskets and Jawun bi-cornual baskets. Featuring in multiple shapes and sizes, each individual basket is delicate and shaped with precision. Deborah was taught to weave by her Mother, Desley Henry, a widely recognised and esteemed Jawun weaver. These traditional processes and skills have been passed on to each generation, preserving important family and cultural knowledge.
As a painter, her strikingly distinct style typically features land and sea animals and block colours. Deborah and Desley’s work has been featured both within Australia and Internationally. In 2019, Deborah received acclaim as the recipient of The Cairns Airport Innovation Award (Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre, CIAF). She has also received the Highly Commended, Group Installation, 4th Hinchinbrook Birdlife Art Award (Tyto Regional Gallery).

Debra Murray is a Girramay woman. She is based in the Jumbun Aboriginal Community of the Murray Upper area, North-West of Cardwell, Queensland.
Specialising in ceramics, Debra’s portfolio consists of Bigin bowls, pots, and Bagu sculptures. All one-of-a-kind pieces, Debra’s work is intricate and eye-catching.
Debra is also a talented painter and printmaker. She is noted for her use of form, varied designs, and penchant for a traditional colour palette.
Debra showcases her strong connection to country and tradition through her lively works. Recognised for her talents, she has been a notable recipient of The Strand of Emphemera (Townsville Artistic Excellence Award).

Denise Kennedy has embraced contemporary materials to reflect her interest in weaving practices and sculptural form. Traditional objects and basket designs inspire her artwork. A relatively new artist she has already represented in the Telstra Indigenous Art Awards and other large exhibitions.

Doris Jajanyu Kinjun is a Gulngay Elder, of the Tully River area, one of the endangered Aboriginal communities with less than 25 people remaining. She is a fluent language speaker, a storyteller and a well-known and respected weaver specialising in traditional forms and styles including the jawun, burrajingal, mindi and gundala. These are made from either lawyer cane or local grasses and were used to carry food, tools, and babies, catching fish, and processing food. Doris has extended her arts practice to include pottery, textiles, and painting.
Examples of her work have been acquired for many institutional and prestigious collections, she was included in an installation shortlisted for the 2010 Telstra Indigenous Art Awards and she is currently lead artist on Gijalordi – The Kingfisher Story, an Art Place Project for the Tully Multi-Purpose Centre.

Emily Nigandy Murray is a Girramay and Jirrbal Traditional Owner of the Davidson Creek area. She is based in the Murray Upper area, North-West of Cardwell, Queensland. Emily works across a number of mediums including weaving, painting and ceramics. As an expert weaver of traditional Mindi baskets, Emily has been a tutor and demonstrator of weaving practises at schools, exhibitions and art centres across Eastern Australia. Emily has a very strong connection to place and heritage. Her art draws from traditional stories, calendar events, plants, animals and her homelands.
Her work is represented in a number of private and institutional collections in Australia. This includes the Queensland Art Gallery, British Museum, Lady Cilento Mater Children's Hospital and National Museum of Australia. She has been included in major sculptural installations for the Museum of Oceanography Monaco 2015 (6 months), Cairns Performing Arts Centre 2018 (permanent) and The Townsville Strand Ephemera 2012.

Erica Muriata is a Girramay woman. She grew up in the Jumbun Aboriginal Community of the Murray Upper area, North-West of Cardwell, Queensland. Erica is a gifted emerging artist, with a penchant for painting landscape scenes in warm, earthy tones. Working across platforms, she is also a ceramicist, creating unique Bagu sculptures. Erica has strong family ties to the Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre. Her Father, Jack Muriata, was a respected Elder and leader in the community. Her Mother, Lillian Muriata, is an established painter. Erica’s personal memories and cultural knowledge strongly influence her art. Her designs embody her identity and ancestors. They share the stories in which she is the keeper of.

Ethel Murray is a Girramay woman, based in Cardwell, North Queensland. She is an award-winning painter and ceramicist, creating one-of-a-kind Bigin bowls and Bagu sculptures. As a contemporary artist, Ethel’s work is bright, and fresh and reflects her vibrant environment. Despite her modern style, Ethel pays homage to her roots, often opting for a traditional colour palette. With a love for Native wildlife, Ethel’s work frequently features birds and other animals - becoming her trademark style. Her work showcases her immense talent and exquisite eye for design. Ethel has honourably received The Cairns Airport Innovation Award (Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre, CIAF 2019) and The Strand of Ephemera (Townsville Artistic Excellence Award).

George Beeron is a Girramay Traditional Owner. He is based in the Jumbun Aboriginal Community of the Murray Upper area, North-West of Cardwell, Queensland. George is an expert ceramicist. He specialises in the design of Bigin bowls and Bagu sculptures. George is known to use an array of colors and designs throughout his work. His mix of both vivid and muted tones gives each piece a distinguishable touch. George produces pieces that reflect his close connection to country, culture, family, and contemporary living. Due to his refined artistry and vast portfolio, many of George’s larger-than-life artworks have been purchased and acquired for exhibition.

Jaason is a Girramay Traditional Owner and one of our emerging artists. Coming from a strong line of master craftspeople, Jaason explores traditional techniques with contemporary materials in his work with the use of wire, weaving, and sculpture.

John Murray is a Girramay man. He is based in the Murray Upper region, North-West of Cardwell, Queensland. John is an accomplished Bagu and Bigin Bowl ceramicist. He is also a fine painter, first picking up his paintbrush in 2008. He uses art as a creative outlet of expression and communication; connecting with others beyond his disabilities. His gift for colour transforms traditional and personal stories with energy and vitality. John’s work reflects the pleasure he takes in fishing, camping, and sports. It provides a glimpse of life in the rainforest. His first solo show, John’s Stories, was featured at the Kick Arts Contemporary Art Centre, coinciding with the 2010 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair. The show toured Queensland in 2012 and 2014. John’s work has been featured in private and institutional collections, including the State Library of Queensland, Queensland Art Gallery, and Arts Queensland.

A Warrgamay Traditional area of the Ingham area, Josie has been painting for several years joining the Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre in 2016. Josie has a strong passion for culture and expresses this through her artwork. Connection to country, family, and traditional customs are strong themes in her work which encompasses weaving and painting.

Leonard Andy is a Djiru Traditional Owner of the Mission Beach area. He lives at Mission Beach on his traditional land and creates a number of unique art pieces including paintings, artefacts, and batiks.
His attention to detail is evident in the intricate designs painted on his carved wooden swords, boomerangs, spear throwers, and canvases. His creativity goes back to his high school days when “my school books were filled with drawings instead of work.”
Leonard is heavily involved in local conservation groups and has a particular interest in the urbanisation and subsequent loss of natural habitat of the Mission Beach area, in particular the impact on Gunduy, the cassowary. This concern is reflected in his art.
He has an interest in the plight of native plant and animal species in the Mission Beach area and is an active participant in raising awareness through groups such as C4 (committee member), Mission Beach Habitat Plan (committee member), and the Garners Beach Cassowary Recovery Community Consultative Committee. He won the 2009 Wet Tropics Management Authority Cassowary Rainforest Aboriginal Culture Award for his services to the community
Leonard has exhibited his artworks and paintings in numerous exhibitions and his artwork has been purchased by private and institutional collections. He has also contributed artwork to many publications including magazines for the North Queensland Land Council and The Wet Tropics Management Authority. His artworks also feature interpretative signage at the Hull River Settlement Memorial at South Mission Beach and as part of the Ulysses Trail Heritage Trails Project at Mission Beach.
Leonard has worked as a cultural tutor for Aboriginal culture at the Clump Mountain Co-operative since 1992 and provides cultural advice. He is regularly invited to undertake Traditional Welcomes in his traditional country, Djiru.

Lillian Muriata is a Girramay woman, based in Cardwell, North Queensland.
An established painter, Lillian’s works feature circular designs with contrasting colours. Opting for a sleek black backdrop throughout her work - this has become Lillian's trademark. Seeds, nests, and smaller insects are also commonly depicted in her paintings.
Lillian often paints alongside her daughter, skilled artist Erica Muriata.

Maleisha Leo is a Girramay woman, based in Cardwell, North Queensland. Maleisha breathes life into old traditions with her contemporary designs. A versatile artist, her portfolio consists of paintings, printed works, woven Mindi baskets, ceramic Bigin bowls, and jewellery.
Using bold, eye-catching colours - Maleisha experiments with a variety of non-traditional items such as wire, plastics, ropes, and cord to create her Mindi. In perhaps one of her most popular jewellery collections to date, the now sold-out Maleisha Leo Collection has cemented her status as one of North Queensland’s top emerging artists.

Marjorie is a Gulngay Traditional Owner from one of the endangered Aboriginal cultural groups, with fewer than 25 people remaining. She is an esteemed Elder who is an accomplished weaver of traditional basket forms. She uses traditional and non-traditional materials in her weaving often combing both in one object and favours bright colours.
Majorie is a cultural knowledge holder, her weaving is just one example of her desire to pass on her knowledge to others.

Maureen Beeron is a Girramay woman of the Murray River area. She lives at the Jumbun Community near Murray Falls, north-west of Cardwell.
Maureen is a weaver of wungarr, traditional lawyer cane eel traps, jawun bicornual baskets and is skilled in traditional string making from bark. Her cousin-sister passed on these weaving skills to Maureen who continues to create these traditional functional artworks.
When creating jawun, Maureen collects the lawyer cane from the rainforest at the Jumbun community, removes the spiky outer ‘skin’ of the cane, and prepares the cane from splitting by passing it through the fire. The cane is then finely split and woven into the jawun bicornual shape. Some of her notable past works include a large jawun and an extra large jawun made for carrying babies. A similar process is carried out to create wungarr traditionally used to trap eels in freshwater creeks.
Since 2004, Maureen’s eel traps have been exhibited in numerous exhibitions regionally and nationally. Her eel traps have been acquired by private collectors within Australia.
Maureen is also a painter who expresses her knowledge and cultural experiences through her artwork. The traditional baskets and other objects she makes are a common theme in her paintings.

Michelle Weare is a Jirrbal woman, based outside of Cardwell, Queensland. Known for her enchanting accessories, The Michelle Weare Collection is a best seller. With statement pieces consisting of earrings, bracelets, and necklaces - Michelle delivers. Made from the seasonal collecting and harvesting of natural seeds, they are then hand-sorted and cured using cultural methods.
Traditionally, these items were made by the old people, threaded on hand-spun bush string, and worn predominately for ceremony. For Michelle, these pieces are full of story. It is her way of sharing loving childhood memories of growing up in rainforest country.
Michelle is also a skilled painter. Her abstract pieces depict multidimensional rainforest scenes. Michelle’s work has been featured in many exhibitions. This includes the 2018 CIAF Curated Exhibition and the 2014 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.

Nancy Beeron is a Jirrbal/Girramay woman. She is based in the Jumbun Aboriginal Community of the Murray Upper area, North-West of Cardwell, Queensland. Nancy is a painter, potter, and esteemed weaver of the Jawun bi-cornual basket. In a lengthy and methodical process, she collects lawyer cane from her traditional Rainforest country, splits the cane into fine strips, and intricately weaves her one-off designs. A multi-faceted artist; Nancy’s paintwork is contrasting and engaging. Her ceramics are also rich, unique, and exceptionally detailed.
Nancy’s work has featured in the Story Place: Indigenous Art of Cape York & the Rainforest and the Woven Forms: Weavings from the Jumbun, Lockhart River, and Aurukun Communities exhibitions. Permanent collections, galleries, and museums throughout Australia have purchased Nancy’s pieces. Her Jawun are also on permanent display at the Cairns Convention Centre.

Nancy Cowan is a Warrgamay/ Warungnu woman. She is based in the township of Kennedy, outside of Cardwell. A talented and accomplished painter and ceramicist, Nancy’s portfolio includes large-scale acrylic paintings, Bagu sculptures, Bigin bowls, pots, and more. Nancy’s work often features wildlife amongst landscape scenes. Her eye for detail and multi-dimensional colour palette choices bring each individual object to life.
First premiering at the Murray Upper and Beyond exhibit at the Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre in 2009, Nancy’s work has since featured in various exhibitions Nationally. Her ceramic work - as part of an artwork installation - was selected as a finalist in the 27th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards in 2009. Multiple public and private collections have acquired Nancy’s distinctive pieces.

Nephi Denham is a Girramay Traditional Owner of the North Murray Area. He is a speaker of language and currently lives at Jumbun, north-west of Cardwell. Nephi is one of the youngest artists working at Girringun and has quickly displayed his creative talents.
Nephi has always loved to work with his hands. A piece of Nephi’s work was acquired by the Gallery of Modern Art, Qld Art Gallery earlier this year and another piece is included in a Girringun installation which has been shortlisted for the 2010 Telstra Indigenous Art Awards.
Nephi’s work reflects his Aboriginal heritage, traditional storie,s and the environment in which he lives.

Ninney Murray is a Jirrbal/ Girramay woman. She is based in the Jumbun Aboriginal Community of the Murray Upper area, North-West of Cardwell, Queensland.

A multidisciplinary artist with a broad portfolio, Ninney is an accomplished painter, ceramicist, and expert weaver. Taught by her Aunty, Ninney frequently weaves Jawun, Burrajingal, Gundala, and Mindi baskets. She is one of few to still construct Wungarr, known as traditional eel traps.

Ninney shares her rich cultural knowledge through the workshops in which she facilitates. Her paintings capture the story of her elders. Her Bagu sculptures are full of personality and life. Ninney’s art is a visual expression of her connection to home and family. Multiple private and institutional collections, including the Queensland Art Gallery, have acquired Ninney’s work.

Philip Denham is a Girramay man. He is based in the Murray Upper region, North-West of Cardwell, Queensland.

Philip creates work that reflects his cultural ties to country. He is known for his exquisite, earthy-toned Bigin shields, Bagu sculptures, Birrbu-birrbu cross boomerangs and paintings. Philip’s paintings, featuring weather patterns, landscapes and animals - are bold and compelling.

Philip is an outstanding creator of traditional tools, with extensive knowledge of the environment and its resources. He is also a Girramay native language speaker. This knowledge was passed on by his parents, Andy and Daisy Denham, respected elders of the area. A now award winning artist, Philip has received The Cairns Airport Innovation Award (Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre, CIAF 2019) and the IACA Lucille Osborne Emerging Artist Award, presented at the Kick Arts Gallery Cairns.

Sandra Escott was born in Charters Towers and resides in the Jumbun Community. Her work is featured in Manggan - Gather, Gathers, Gathering, the first-ever travelling exhibition of Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre.
She is noted for her exquisite ceramics and sculptural work.

A Warrgamay woman of the Ingham area Soraya has a passion for learning cultural knowledge and how she can express her ideas in creative ways. She has been experimenting successfully with ceramics and weaving (traditional and non-traditional materials). She is also keen on writing and poetry and is looking at ways to incorporate these mediums with her artwork.

Theresa Beeron is a Jirrbal/ Girramay Traditional Owner. She is based in Murray Upper, North-West of Cardwell, Queensland. Theresa is an accomplished painter, potter, and weaver. As a child, Theresa was taught to weave by her Mother. She specialises in finely crafted Mindi, Burrajingal, and Jawun traditional baskets. These unique baskets are woven meticulously with special rainforest and river grasses. Theresa’s striking pieces mirror the environment in which she lives. Her art speaks to audiences, telling both her personal story and the story of her ancestors. Theresa’s artwork has been acquired by private collections and institutions such as Sydney’s Art Bank and the Queensland Art Gallery. She regularly facilitates workshops, provides cultural advice, and continues to pass on her weaving skills to younger generations.

Tonya Grant is a Jirrbal woman. She is based in the Davidson Falls area, North of Cardwell. Tonya is a remarkable painter and expert weaver of Jawun. Woven with lawyer cane, this traditional bi-cornual basket is unique to the rainforest people. With an almost innate ability, she has perfected her craft from an early age. This was done so under the teachings of her Mother, Desley Henry, a well-known and respected weaver.

Tonya’s inspiration draws from traditional colours, patterns, and design, particularly the cyclone motif associated with her naming place. Tonya and Desley Henry’s work can be found throughout many private and institutional collections, both Nationally and Internationally. This includes the Art Gallery of South Australia, Queensland Art Gallery, Cairns Regional Gallery, and the Parliament House Art Collection (Canberra). Tonya’s designs have also been used to promote the Echo Creek Cultural Centre, where she works as a tour guide, demonstrator, and tutor of cultural practices.