Daniel comes from a strong family of Aboriginal and Eastern Torres Strait Islander heritage. The traditional stories re-told in Daniel’s work are passed down to him by family members and respected elders from Erub (Darnley) Island, home to his mother’s family.

He frequently made lengthy trips up north to Bamaga and various islands where he received a wealth of knowledge, skills, and exposure to his cultural heritage. He is also fortunate to have had his grandparents on both his mother’s and father’s side as strong role models and cultural advocates for his family and his people. Their teachings have been monumental in his upbringing and have shaped his cultural values. In his spare time, when he is not at work, he likes to fit in as much carving and brainstorming for new prints as possible. He recently moved back home to Cairns after a three-year stint in Bamaga as a construction labourer while he and his partner bought their first house, so art was put on the back burner for some time.

Daniel draws inspiration from the previous generation of Torres Strait Islander printmakers, combining an extraordinary talent in carving ‘warr’, a form of symbolic patterning, to create a rich, moving tapestry that serves as a backdrop for the characters in his stories. Daniel has been the recipient of several prestigious national print awards, and his work is held in major national and international collections.

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Tribe: Meuram (Darnley/Erub Island)
Totem: Beugerr (Booby Bird)
Clan Totems: Omia (Dog), Nam (Green Sea Turtle), Serarr (Black Neit Tern)