Yinjibarndi artist and Elder Allery Sandy is about to go overseas for the first time at age 70.

She is understandably nervous, but as artist-in-residence at a 20th anniversary exhibition of Pilbara art in London, Ms Sandy is also excited by the opportunity to share with broader audiences the cultural connections to Country Aboriginal people have.

"I'm looking forward to a wider audience to listen to my story, to see why Country that connects to the Aboriginal people is so important," she told National Indigenous Times.

"For me to just stand up there and tell my story, and just meet everyone, is going to be an honour," she said before leaving for the UK, where the Rio Tinto-funded exhibition has been taken overseas for the first time, before another inaugural stint on the road back home in Busselton, and a final showing in Boorloo/Perth.

Ms Sandy shared the inspiration behind her signature piece, After the rain, part of a curated selection of works from six Pilbara artists at the special London showing.

"When the rain comes, it makes the country flourish again, and brings the beauty of the land that we live in … it provides all that we need," she said.

"When the heavy dew comes along, it's nature itself, it just waters the mother earth and slowly brings the beauty, the wildflowers and the fruits that we can get from the trees."

The Colours of our Country exhibition has become a vital support for artists in the Pilbara over its two decades, and brought much attention to the region and Roebourne specifically, where many craft their works at Yinjaa-Barni Art Centre.

Accompanying Ms Sandy to London was fellow artist Lynette Upton, a Pilbara Nyamal woman, and Rachael Sandover, the centre's executive manager.

"The exhibition is a real highlight for the artists they've been supporting for the 20 years it's been running, and allowed for a lot of attention … that they otherwise might not receive," Ms Sandover said.

The special curated selection for the London showing features nine artworks from six artists, and are for sale.

"It's a smaller exhibition than what we'll be running in Busselton and Perth, but quite a nice, curated selection that reflects different parts of the Pilbara, culture and law story, as well as Country, relationships and community," Ms Sandover said.

She said Allery, the signature artist for the 2025 exhibition, was an amazing woman and passionate about her culture and inspiring others into the medium.

"To be in her presence, you can really feel that power. She really wants to preserve Yindjibarndi culture," Ms Sandover said.

"She also wants to encourage lots of other people to practice their art and consider it as a meaningful source of income.

"It's amazing to see at the age of 70 she is going overseas for the first time... I think she's nervous, but I also think it'll really pave the way for some of our younger artists, and see that there's a big, wide world out there.

"They're keen and interested to learn more, and if those artists are brave and interested in sharing, there's that opportunity available if they'd like to pursue it."

Ms Sandy said she was proud that painting was still important to many local artists throughout the years.

"I used to see my grandfather painting with ochres and using the cork bark stick to make a paint brush," she said.

"Today we see what we have developed, and how we are proud of our work and what we can achieve in this, and seeing all that we have done… we've lost count of how many paintings and artwork we've done over the years."

Ms Sandy hopes sharing the connection Aboriginal people have to Country would enlighten the broader London audience, and maybe inspire young people back home to share theirs.

"I'd love to encourage my younger generations today to stand up for who they are and tell their story boldly, strong and just be who they are," the Elder said.

More than 3,080 artworks have been sold since the first Colours of our Country exhibition in 2006, with $3.4 million going directly to Pilbara artists, art centres and their communities.

Each location for the expanded 2025 exhibition will host an Artist in Residence, so visitors could gain a deeper understanding of their culture and connection to Country.

The exhibitions are open to the public in London (July 14-18), Busselton (August 25-29) and Perth (September 15-26).

More information is available at coloursofourcountry.com.