Pauline Yearbury (née Blomfield) was born in Te Tai Tokerau Northland (her birth certificate gives the location ‘Tākou East Kāeo’, likely meaning the Tākou river area, east of Kāeo). With educator Dame Kāterina Mataira and Sara Alexander, mother of renowned photographer John Miller, she was one of the first Māori women to attend the Elam School of Fine Arts. She is believed to be the first Māori person to obtain a Diploma in Fine Arts. She was just 14 years old when she entered Elam in 1943, and she graduated in 1946. Following her course of study, she worked as a tutor. She returned to her hometown of Kororāreka Russell in 1951 or 1952. Her works combine local narratives with dynamically stylised designs and she was one of the first contemporary Māori artists to incorporate Māori narratives within her art practice. She explained this approach to the old stories:

‘I have always been interested in Māori mythology and legends—it is part of my inheritance. What was important to my ancestors is still important to me … One must use legends but interpret them in the modern manner.’

Initially, she and husband James, also an Elam graduate, worked together as house painters. They were later commissioned to produce several large, narrative-based murals telling stories from local history, including the history of Waitangi. From 1966 to 1977, the couple operated a successful artist studio, selling the pieces for which they are best known: incised and dyed wood panels carrying stylised, figurative scenes from pūrākau Māori, Māori customary narratives. Pauline is generally credited as the primary artist. She produced the designs and coloured the panels, while James carried out the incising. The panels were popular with tourists who visited the Bay of Islands, and examples can be found in numerous private collections.