Doreen Chapman Australian, Manyjilyjarra, b. 1970

Biography as told by Doreen's mother, Maywokka May Chapman:

“Been born Jigalong. Big sister for my son, Dennis Thomas. [S]he been come this way, Hedland. Doreen [and] me [are] from Karntimarta, Warralong. I been bring him [her] here. Little girl [s]he start painting in Warralong. [S]he looking… looking… [s]he quick painter, quickly, looking, looking. No fishing, no hunting, no car, painting, painting every day eh? You been bring ‘em, [s]he painting, painting, painting! (laughs)"

Doreen Chapman was born at Jigalong Mission in the early 1970’s, though she soon moved with her family to newly Aboriginal owned Strelley Station. In Doreen’s youth, she continued to travel between remote Pilbara communities including Warralong, Punmu and Marble Bar with her mother, senior Martumili Artist, May Wokka Chapman. Today Doreen primarily lives in Warralong community.

Doreen first learned to paint alongside her mother, beginning her artistic career with Martumili Artists in March 2009 when she and the other women of Punmu painted a large collaborative artwork to raise funds for the community. Doreen is now an established artist in her own right, known for her loose, uninhibited painting style. As a deaf woman, painting is an important means of communication and expression for Doreen.