Byron was born in the Great Victoria Desert and grew up traversing his parent's country with his extended family. As a child Byron was taught where water was to be found, how to utilise climatic conditions and how to navigate from place to place in order to survive.
As with the majority of the Spinifex people Byron's family were pushed towards the SW of their country in the 1950's as a major drought gripped the country and the British began nuclear testing at Maralinga.Tragically some Spinifex people perished during this frightening and confusing time. However, family groups moved to the mission of Cundeelee where they existed for about twenty five years maintaining a semi nomadic lifestyle. In the early 1980's a core group of Spinifex people including Byron moved back west into their country making camp first at Yakatunya north of the Nularbor and later establishing the community of Tjuntjuntjara where the group lives today.
Byron is an enthusiastic member of the Spinifex Arts Project and has been painting since 1997 when the project commenced. Byron is quite an experimental painter and is developing a unique and successful style.
Painting his homeland area which he knows intimately Byron cites the following places; Tjuntjalla, Tjawarr, wawartju, Kulapi, Ilkurlka, Warlpirltjara, Tjukurlpa, Mirramirratjara, Pulitjii, Kanguu, Pina, Amantju, Muyu, Pirarpi, Kulapi, Tjuntala, Wayara, Tuwan, Tarantjara, Ilkaru, Tjimara, Kanmurtja, Paupiyala, Kapi Piti Kutjara, Kuru Ala, Puyu, Minga and Kamantjii. This is an area which covers many hundreds of kilometres in central and northern Spinifex country.
Byron was born in the Great Victoria Desert and grew up traversing his parent's country with his extended family. As a child Byron was taught where water was to be found, how to utilise climatic conditions and how to navigate from place to place in order to survive.
As with the majority of the Spinifex people Byron's family were pushed towards the SW of their country in the 1950's as a major drought gripped the country and the British began nuclear testing at Maralinga.Tragically some Spinifex people perished during this frightening and confusing time. However, family groups moved to the mission of Cundeelee where they existed for about twenty five years maintaining a semi nomadic lifestyle. In the early 1980's a core group of Spinifex people including Byron moved back west into their country making camp first at Yakatunya north of the Nularbor and later establishing the community of Tjuntjuntjara where the group lives today.
Byron is an enthusiastic member of the Spinifex Arts Project and has been painting since 1997 when the project commenced. Byron is quite an experimental painter and is developing a unique and successful style.
Painting his homeland area which he knows intimately Byron cites the following places; Tjuntjalla, Tjawarr, wawartju, Kulapi, Ilkurlka, Warlpirltjara, Tjukurlpa, Mirramirratjara, Pulitjii, Kanguu, Pina, Amantju, Muyu, Pirarpi, Kulapi, Tjuntala, Wayara, Tuwan, Tarantjara, Ilkaru, Tjimara, Kanmurtja, Paupiyala, Kapi Piti Kutjara, Kuru Ala, Puyu, Minga and Kamantjii. This is an area which covers many hundreds of kilometres in central and northern Spinifex country.