Ambelin Kwaymullina graduated from the University of Western Australia in 1998 with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons). She worked in the areas of natural resource management, law reform and politics. Kwaymullina published her first work for children, the picture book Crow and the Waterhole, in 2007.
In February 2010, Fremantle Press announced Ambelin Kwaymullina had been selected among 25 Australian illustrators whose work will be exhibited by the Australian Publishers' Association at the Brologna Children's Book Fair in March 2010 for Crow and the Waterhole. The exhibition promotes Australian culture and literary culture internationally.
She has subsequently published a wide range of children's books, both independently and in collaboration with family members.
Ambelin Kwaymullina is the daughter of Sally Morgan and the sister of Blaze Kwaymullina and Ezekiel Kwaymullina. Her heritage is the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia.