Helen McCarthy Tyalmuty (pronounced Chul-much) was born at Tennant Creek in 1972. She spent most of her childhood at Nauiyu Nambiyu Community at Daly River, about 230 km south of Darwin. Later Helen went to study teaching, completing her degree at Deakin University in 1994. During her time at university Helen’s art career began to take shape, and by 1993 she was already involved in her first art festival. Helen’s painting continued to develop after moving into teaching full time, and for ten years she successfully combined a job as a teacher in remote communities with her painting activities. Helen McCarthy Tyalmuty had her first solo exhibition in 2006. In 2007, Helen received the People’s Choice Award at the 24th Telstra Aboriginal Art Awards for her painting Tyemeny Liman’s Wutinggi (Grandpa Harry’s Canoe).