Tori-Jay Mordey was born on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait and is descended from the Meriam and Maluyigal clans. She is inspired by contemporary artists and holds a Bachelor of Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art from Griffith University in Brisbane.

In 2012, she was awarded the black&write! Indigenous Writing Fellowship with writer, Jillian Boyd. Their book Bakir & Bi marked Tori-Jay’s illustrating debut. It was published by Magabala Books in 2013. This book is no longer in print, but Jillian and Tori-Jay intend to include the story in a new publication.

Tori-Jay has loved drawing from a very young age and is inspired by contemporary artists like Jae Liu Wubao Russ Mills James Jean Aaron Horkey and Banksy.