Meet Tom

Kaya Ngyany Kwerl Thomas.

Hello, My name is Thomas Betts and I am a Noongar Maarmun, living and working on Boorloo (Perth). I have family connections and ties to Wagyl Kaip and the great southern region of Western Australia, my people are the Minang and Wadjeri people of the Noongar nation.

I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters where I live and work, the Whadjuk elders past present and emerging.

I have been painting and designing contemporary Aboriginal Art for roughly five years. I have also been involved in a collective of Aboriginal Artist’s called “Art by Djikulu Dreaming” during this time, which has inspired my designs and Art.

Djikulu Dreaming is a collective of Noongar and Yolngu Artists. This is part of the inspiration of my designs, use of dots and other factors of my art and design work.

I now have the privilege of working along side my family and brother in law, Sam who is a Yawuru and Karrajarri man through Kaarli. Sam handcrafts boomerangs and other traditional tools and I paint them.

I have enjoyed working with community, schools, sporting clubs, colleagues and organisations to celebrate my culture and help other share and understand our stories.