Clifton Mack (1952-2019) was an Elder of the Yindjibarndi people, and the son of revered Yindjibarndi rainmaker, Long Mack. Mr Mack started painting in 2001 at Cossack. His art represents his Country and its stories, the rocks of the Pilbara region and the flora and fauna, using his own particular way of painting, often in small patches of colours laid out in line. Mr Mack was always experimenting with colour, often layering colours and patterns over each other to create an interesting dimensional depth to his canvases. He sometimes achieved this optical effect by painting one entire story on top of another. As evidenced by his Jarman Island Lighthouse series, Mr Mack also tapped into non-traditional styles, giving rise to artwork embracing both traditional and contemporary influences.
In 2006 he was selected to visit Italy as part of the Antica Terra Pulsante exhibition in Florence. In 2010 and 2014, he was a finalist in the prestigious Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards. Mr Mack won many prizes at the Cossack Art Awards, and first prize in the Royal Bank of Scotland Emerging Artist Award in Sydney. His work is held in national, State and private collections.