Daisy Ngawaia Nalyirri spoke Mudburra and Gurindji languages and was the traditional owner of Murranji (Nayinini), west of Dunmara Top Springs, the old stock route. Nalyirri lived for many years in the East Arm Leprosarium on Channel Island.
She first painted in ochres at the leprosarium. She then moved to acrylics as part of a Northern Territory Open College project at Elliott in 1990. It was there that her work was noticed and included in a group exhibition at Alcaston House Gallery in 1992.
She lived and worked at Marlinja (Butterfly Dreaming) near Newcastle Waters, her deceased husband's country, having spent some time in her country at Wave Hill. She spent her last years at Elliott.
Nalyirri held her first solo exhibition at Alcaston Gallery in 1995. Most of her work concerned Ngurra-Mala, Murranji and the Butterfly Dreaming associated with the site of Marlinja. Her output was very small due to the severe impact of leprosy. Her work was exhibited in Dots at the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 1989.
