Shirley paints her country, Angootuna, in the Utopia region. Shirley often depicts wildlife and plant life found in her country.
The fine dot work represents ntyemeny, known as the ruby saltbush (Enchylaena tomentosa). A soft greyish shrub with small flowers and bright red or yellow berries, the ntyemeny is found in abundance around Alice Springs and through out Central Australia in every habitat. The Aboriginal people would eat the ntyemeny berries when ripe and juicy or reconstitute the dried berries in water. This is not habitual though and is eaten mainly by the children.