Lily Sandover Kngwarreye was born c 1937 at MacDonald Downs on the Utopia clan lands. She began painting during the 1988-9 CAAMA summer workshop following almost a decade making batik. The adopted ‘sister’ of Emily Kngwarreye, Lily was her closest friend and constant companion, often referring to Emily when in a humorous mood as ‘granny’.

The Sandover River, winds its way through the sprawling homelands of the Alyawarr people. The surrounding country is characterized by red sands dotted with ghost gums and, in season, with explosions of wildflowers set against piercing blue skies. The Alyawarr live in simple outstations adjacent to the river, which for much of the year is a wide sandy strip lined with dry silver grasses and shady tre...