Born at Coniston c.1930 of the Anmatyerre language group, Dick’s boyhood companions included Clifford Possum and his older brother Tim Leura . Dick moved into Alice Springs, establishing himself at Morris Soak. At the beginning of the ’80s he began painting on canvas independently in the Western Desert style – one of the first to do so – selling his work through the Centre for Aboriginal Artists and occasionally Papunya Tula Artists. Dick served for nine years on the Aboriginal Congress and was co-author of Settle Down Country and Health Business with Pam Nathan. His country lay around Mt Allan, and his work usually portrayed Sugar Ant and Women Dreamings from this region. He was married with nine children, two from a previous marriage. His daughter, Wendy Lechleitner began painting in the late 1980s, early 1990s.

Writers:

Johnson, Vivien Note: primary biographer

Date written:

1994

Last updated:

2011