His painting Papa Tjukurpa munu Pukara won the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award in 2010.
[2][3] Donegan was born about 1940, at Yanpan, a rock hole near Ngatuntjarra bore in outback Western Australia.
He grew up living a traditional, nomadic way of life in the Pitjantjatjara and Ngaanyatjarra country around what is now the communities of Papulankutja and Mantamaru.
During the late 1970s and the "Homeland Movement", her family moved to Pipalyatjara to be closer to traditional home lands.
Like many other Anangu (people of Pitjantjatjara land) families, Melissa's moved frequently between the communities of Irrunytju, Pipalyatjara and Amata.
[3] Since joining Ninuku Arts, Donegan's work has been featured every year in the annual Desert Mob exhibition in Alice Springs.
[3] Donegan's paintings depict ancestral stories from the Dreamtime, which have spiritual significance for his family.
[14][15] Donegan's most famous painting, Papa Tjukurpa munu Pukara, combined both of these stories onto a single canvas.
[1][14] It is a composition of several different styles and techniques,[16] and won the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award in August 2010.