Butcher Cherel Janangoo was born circa 1920 at Jalnganjoowa.

This is near the original homestead on one of the longest established cattle stations in the Kimberley, Fossil Downs.

Later in life he moved to Fitzroy Crossing town site, where he died in 2009.

 He was still painting at the Mangkaja Arts centre in Fitzroy Crossing as recently as December 2008 but became unwell over Christmas and died peacefully in mid-February 2009.

He was without doubt the most important artist in that part of the Kimberley and at the time a statement issued by the Mangkaja Arts centre said:

"[Cherel] lived a life grounded in the knowledge, culture and identity of his southern Kimberley country.

But he also lived with enormous generosity, sharing that knowledge and culture through his words, his actions and his art.

The many accolades he gained are in recognition of his quality, character and dignity.

He was a Western Australian Living Treasure, his paintings consistently rated among the most collectable of Australian artists and his work is recognised in awards nationally.

Yet it is for his presence, his leadership and his knowledge that Muludja community, the Fitzroy Crossing community and Mangkaja Arts are today acknowledging an enormous loss."

His mother was of the Kija clan and his father a Gooniyandi man.

He spoke both languages, as well as some Walmajarri and Bunuba.

Both his parents worked on the station, in and around the homestead, and he recalled being taken out bush for walkabout and at law time, when he was a young man.

With the two of them working on the station, it followed that Butcher also spent most of his working life on Fossil Downs Station, and as a stockman he worked cattle and droving from Fitzroy Crossing to Derby and Broome.

This time was hard as he stated, "real hard".

Butcher was a key elder of the Goonityandi language group and was instrumental in the retention of law ceremony at Muludja Community.

He saw Aboriginal Law and language as fundamentally important, and felt uneasy that young people did not have this tradition to refer to as they had not been educated as he was.

Thus Butcher’s calling in life evolved, the need to ensure his culture remained alive and remain alive for the generations that were to follow him

Butcher's works provide glimpses of his cultural physical environment.  As he stated, 

"with my eyes, my heart and with my brain I am thinking.

When I go to sleep nighttime, I might talk to myself 'ah, I might do (paint) that one tomorrow,' not dreaming; I think about what to do next."

He was a lovely artist who had a quiet career that built very slowly as he produced very high-quality work.

[These works] seldom appear for resale as they're so charming and loved by the people who own them, so this release of archived works is a very special occasion.

Butcher was recognised as one of Australia’s leading contemporary artists.

He was listed twice as one of the 50 most collectable artists in Australia by Australian Art Collector and was declared a ‘State Living Treasure’ by the Government of Western Australia in 2004.

He was one of the most important artists from that region of the Kimberley that ever painted and is represented in countless National collections and held widely around the world.