Jimmy Pike was born and grew up in the Great Sandy Desert and was a member of the Walmajarri people, one of the last groups to leave the desert and settle on cattle stations in the Kimberley during the 1950's. A former stockman on Kimberley cattle stations, Pike was imprisoned for murder in 1981. He took up painting while in prison, studying under Steven Culley and David Wroth and while imprisoned, he met Pat Lowe (q.v.).
He was released from prison in 1988 and soon after, Lowe and Pike went to live at Kurlku, about 200 kilometres from Fitzroy Crossing. In the early 1990s, they moved to Broome and Pike's career as an artist began to flourish. This country, its ancient culture and symbols are the inspiration for Jimmy Pike's work. In 1999, he became the first Australian artist to have his work displayed in the Chinese National Gallery in Beijing.