Nellie was born at Kintore which is near the Northern Territory and West Australian border. From a young age Nellie was taught and learned the Dreaming stories from her family in particular from her father and grandfathers which relate to the region East of Kintore.

Nellie began her painting career at Kintore with the advantage of learning from some of the most respected first generation indigenous artists such as Old Mick Namarrari, Uta Uta and her own father the Turkey Tolson Tjupurrula.

Over time Nellie has developed her individual skills and style and has become a successful artist in her own right. Women dreaming stories from the Western Desert form the core of Nellie’s paintings. Showing her family as they undertake their journey through the country gathering Bush Tucker, Nellie depicts a fruitful land.

Painting in earthy tones, her paintings generally relate to Women Water Dreaming, Women Ceremonies, Women Tingari and Women Body Painting.