About the Artist:

Coral Hayes [Hughes] was born in Balranald NSW and is a descendant of the Yorta Yorta people of the Mooroopna/Shepparton region of Victoria. Coral’s totem is the long neck turtle which her mother Kitty Smith Murray and her grandmother Alice belongs to. Coral is also a descendant of the central Arunta people of Alice Springs, her totem is also the eagle called Ertija which belongs to her grandmother Julie Hughes which Coral is proud to belong to, in respect of her Ancestors. Coral’s father Billy Hughes totem is the green caterpillar Yeperenye whom he was very proud of. Coral now paints with full respect of her ancestors that are now in the dreaming.