Deborah is the daughter of acclaimed Kunwinjku artist Thompson Yulidjirri  (1930-2009) and learnt to paint on bar k and carved wooden sculptures under his tutelage.

She was wife to S. Namunjdja (1965 – 2018)and paints the themes of her husbands country such as Kunkurra (Cold spiralling wind) and Ngalng (Freshwater Yabby). Similar to her husband her uses and application of ochres are incredibly fine in the West Arnhem style, her artworks glow.