Renee Clifton is an Aboriginal artist from the Kimberley region who paints a wide range of contemporary Aboriginal artworks based on her heritage and her enduring relationship to the land. The natural environment such as waterholes, bush fruits, animals and song lines inspire her works. Family is often the focus of her paintings which are based on stories passed down to her from her elders or about family living and connecting to country. Renee paints with her mother and daughter motivated by time spent together as family. She believes that three generations painting together produces something special. Time spent together listening to stories about family history and country filters into their artworks.
Renee’s father Arnold ‘Puggy’ Hunter was Nyul Nyul and Nyikina from the Dampier Peninsula and Martuwarra (Fitzroy River) region of the Kimberley while her mother Matilda ‘Blondie’ Pascoe Queama is Kokatha and grew up in the desert country of South Australia including Ooldea, Oak Valley and Koonibba.
Renee’s grandmother inspired her to paint, “I just loved all the stories in her paintings and the energy she gave to all her art, no matter what she painted.” Renee’s first major work was in collaboration with her grandmother for the Kimberley Regional Dialysis Centre in Broome in 2002.
Since that time Renee has developed her artwork with her mother and daughter and they now sell family works locally, nationally and internationally.
The family often camp at Budgarjook which is her husband’s country through his mother. Renee believes that her husband Albert has made her art journey possible. At Budgarjook the family camp under the stars, go fishing, crabbing, collect cockles and importantly sit around the campfire at night and enjoy the food they have caught that day. They connect, talk, and have a good laugh. Many of Renee’s artworks are based on these times at Budgarjook. These trips are seen as a way for the immediate family to connect and also to connect with the ancestors of the country which Renee believes make her ‘liyan,’ or her spirit, strong.
Renee, with her daughter Kathleen and mother Blondie sell their art online and their work is in high demand. Renee was a finalist in the Bluethumb Art Awards in 2022. Alongside painting for private sales Renee has produced commissioned works for government departments, for conferences and has been selected to enter works in highly competitive exhibitions. In 2020 an artist from every region of Western Australia was commissioned to produce a piece for the Western Australian Police Academy in Joondalup, Renee was picked to represent the Kimberley. In 2021 Renee was chosen as an independent artist to represent Broome for the Revealed Exhibition at Fremantle Arts Centre. In 2021 Renee was a finalist in the National Capital Art Prize in Canberra for her piece ‘Going for Cockles’ based on the family’s enduring connection to Budgarjook. Going for Cockles was sold to an international buyer.
In 2022 Renee’s artwork featured on the cover of Rawlinson’s Construction Handbook and Cost Guide. Renee requested that Rawlinson donate to the Royal Flying Doctors with every copy sold. Renee has collaborated with teachers to have Aboriginal artwork included on educational materials and has used her artwork for sporting uniforms. Renee designed the ‘Stop Elder Abuse’ conference t-shirts for the conference hosted by the Labor Member for Mining and Pastoral. The Kimberley Aboriginal Women’s Council has also used Renee’s artwork for conference materials. Renee has volunteered during NAIDOC week in Broome doing artworks.
She has also volunteered her time during NAIDOC doing a mural with children at St Mary’s Primary, Broome Primary School and the Diocese of Broome. Renee has worked in Perth at the Forrestfield cultural camp doing artwork with the high school students in 2021.
The family have a keen sense of community and Renee has donated artworks to help with fundraising, such as school camps, or donated to raise money for families in crisis, or to assist families with the medical costs or life-threatening illnesses. Community volunteers in Broome have had their services to the community recognised through being gifted artworks by Renee and her family.
The Broome doctors and dentist surgery have paintings by Renee and the hospital birthing suite has Renee’s artworks in their rooms. Renee has been told that her paintings helped people to relax and had a calming effect. In 2020 Broome Primary school commissioned a work from Renee for their rebuilt school office.
Renee’s daughter Kathleen is emerging as a talented artist. Kimberley Aboriginal Women’s Council recently used Kathleen’s artwork for their logo and their publications.
Renee is happy to discuss any project with you, consider your requirements and what you might be seeking when purchasing Aboriginal artwork. Renee can discuss the artwork and create a unique and personalised piece of her artwork that mixes Aboriginal symbolism with an interpretation of the story you provide to her.
Feel free to contact Renee to discuss commissions or projects.
