Born 'in the bush' in 1944 in Pitjantjatjara country round Ernabella in S.A. Winkilini, further to the south in SA, is William's country from his father and his grandfather.

Kunapi, far to the south of Papunya out towards Docker River, is his country from his grandmother and mothers side. He paints Dingo, Emu, Woman, Green Bean and other Dreaming stories for his country. He grew up walking around these places - and further north around Hermannsburg, Areyonga and Haasts Bluff. Eventually the family settled at Ernabella, where William attended the mission school. From here William Sandy came to Papunya in 1973 and married Violet Nakamarra, sister of Michael NELSON Jagamarra.

They have four children, a boy and three girls, one adopted.

From the time of his arrival in Papunya settlement, William worked for the Papunya Council. From the late '80's, he and his wife have been health workers with the Papunya Medical Service. William has recently stopped other employment to concentrate on his painting. He did his first paintings in 1975, teaching himself after watching the other artists at work. However, it was not until the early '80's that he began painting full-time for Galleries including Papunja Tula Artists grup and the Aboriginal Desert Art Gallery in Alice Springs.