Collecting Colour was inspired by author and illustrator Kylie Dunstan's time spent as an Arts Officer at a community centre in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. One of her duties was to take the local women out on bush trips to collect pandanus and colour for weaving and dyeing the mats and baskets sold in the Arts Centre.

Kyliewas born in Broken Hill, New South Wales in 1972, and completed secondary and tertiary (Bachelor of Visual Arts) schooling in Adelaide. She worked for a number of years in commercial art galleries before her twelve-month stint in Gunbalanya (Oenpelli), Arnhem Land. Following this she traveled overseas before returning to Australia and settling in Melbourne where she worked for Museums Australia. In 2004 Kylie received an ASA mentorship and worked with author and illustrator Sally Rippin on the development of Collecting Colour. She relocated to Adelaide with her partner and two young children in 2005.