Painting of Maggie Beer unveiled at National Portrait Gallery

Beloved foodie Maggie Beer has had her portrait painted by Del Kathryn Barton, surrounded by produce from her Barossa Valley farm.

Australian artist Del Kathryn Barton and Maggie Beer at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra for the unveiling of a new Maggie Beer portrait on December 7, 2023. Picture: Supplied / National Portrait Gallery

One good thing about the ­unveiling of her portrait at the National Portrait Gallery is that Maggie Beer did not have to do the catering.

The portrait by Del Kathryn Barton, painted in the artist’s trademark psychedelic style, has Beer surrounded by game and produce grown at her Pheasant Farm in the Barossa Valley.

Pomegranates, figs, quince and peas are all grown on the property, as are pheasants.

“My whole world in food began with the luck of meeting my husband Colin,” Beer said.

“It was his vision to farm pheasants, which led to everything we have done in life together. It’s funny – he realises, of course, that (the pheasant is) a representation of him. I wouldn’t be me without him.”

Beer, 78, is one of Australia’s most recognised and beloved foodies, through her TV appearances, products and advocacy for nutritious meals for older Australians.

Despite her expertise in the kitchen, she continued to insist she was not a chef.

“Please don’t call me a chef – I was only ever a cook,” she said.

“I was never trained and I am very much a country cook, a produce-driven cook.”

Beer said she was offered a choice of three artists to paint her portrait, and chose Barton because of her imaginative approach. The portrait was unveiled at an afternoon tea at the NPG in Canberra on Thursday.

“I didn’t want just a representation of me, a picture of me,” she said. “Del is into fantasy, almost psychedelic fantasy, you might say, so I chose Del because that’s the way I saw myself.”

Barton said she attempted to capture Beer’s stature, as well as her humour and warmth.

“She is a living queen, and has a regal, wise, generous aspect to her,” she said.

“But when you meet her, you just fall in love with her. She is ­ridiculously sweet, and has a ­glorious, inclusive life energy.”

Beer continues to run her business from the Barossa Valley and launched a foundation to promote healthy and attractive meals for senior Australians.

She said she didn’t know why she had been chosen for a portrait in the NPG.

“My world has been food ever since I moved to the Barossa, and it continues to be in different ways now, through aged-care,” she said. “I was so chuffed, I didn’t think to ask. I didn’t want them to have second thoughts.”