Renae Nelson was born in Alice Springs and grew up at Papunya, Fregon and Watinuma Homelands until coming down to Adelaide to complete Highschool. She then moved back to Fregon to work alongside School Teachers as an Aboriginal Education Worker. Renae also worked with PYEC for four years in Indulkana before moving to Adelaide to start her artistic career with Iwiri Arts as Painter and ceramicist. Renae grew up watching her grandparents paint, and now she paints her grandmother’s country, Mamungari, near Watarru.

Renae’s tjamu/grandfather is a Walpiri man on her father’s side. His name is Michael Jakamarra Nelson, who is a famous painter. His painting was turned into a mosaic which is in front of the new parliament house.

On her mother’s side, her Kami/grandmother, Mrs Manyitjanu Lennon, is a Pitjantjatjara/Yankuntjatjarra woman, she won the Heysen prize for landscape painting in 2020.

Renae creates paintings, ceramics, and illustration artworks.