Jimmy (John) Thaiday was born on Thursday Island in 1978 and grew up in Erub, Torres Strait, where he continues to live and work.

Jimmy trained as a carpenter before pursuing a career as an artist. He has had a lifelong passion for drawing, depicting the fish and marine life on the reef surrounding the island where he grew up. For Jimmy, art is a means of expressing his identity while sharing his culture and beliefs.

Jimmy has been represented in major national and international exhibitions, including WARWAR: The art of the Torres Strait, Newcastle Art Gallery 2021; and Taba Naba, Oceanography Museum, Monaco 2016. His work is represented in major collections in Australia and overseas.

He is represented by Erub Arts, Torres Strait, Queensland.