Shirley Dixon

Shirley was born at the old Alcoota settlement close to where the 9 million year old mega fauna fossils were found. She now lives in Engawala Community. She was only a young girl when they started to clear out an area to build a community and Shirley helped the older people. Engawala Community is located North-East of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.

When Shirley moved to Utopia she learnt how to do painting from her other family members. Her biggest Influence is her mother who is also an artist. She joined Engawala Art Centre in 2020 and paints regularly, it helps her relax and clear her mind. She sells her artworks through Northern Territory markets and also Engawala Art Centre website. She enrolled in Visual Arts at Batchelor Institute so she could gain more art skills and techniques for her passion. She has completed certificate 2 in Visual Arts. Shirley’s theme in her artworks are stories about her dreaming Ruby Salt Bush locally known as Ntjaminya, Bush Tucker, Bush Medicine and Women’s Dancing Ceremony. She paints acrylic on canvas, native seed jewellery making and making birds out of clay.