Candy was born in Yuendumu to Gladys Napanangka and renowned Papunya Tula artist Johnny Warangkula Tjupurrula. Her mother was visiting Yuendumu on cultural business when she gave birth to Candy. Candy grew up in Papunya with her parents and brothers and sisters, Lindsay, Mike, Narlie and Dennis Nelson. Candy attended Papunya school and Yarara College in 1980. Johnny Warangkula taught his children how to paint while passing down all the family stories to them. They all paint the Kalipinypa Water Dreaming story which Candy continues to explore and reinvent in her paintings.
Candy has three children and her husband has passed away. Candy became a member of Papunya Tjupi in 2009. Since then she has proved herself to be a very committed artist. In 2014 she was nominated by the members to take on the role of a Director of Papunya Tjupi Arts.
