A place to hide in plain sight for artist Kate Bergin

A tropical retreat in the Noosa hinterland helps get the inspiration going for artist Kate Bergin.

Kate Bergin with one of her two taxidermy foxes. Picture: Russell Shakespeare

Talented artist Kate Bergin, who is known for her whimsical paintings that feature exotic animals, teaspoons, antique telephones and half-peeled apples, took less than five minutes to fall in love with her Queensland house.

Located at Doonan in the Noosa hinterland, the spacious home has four interconnecting pavilions joined by glass hallways, where views of the lush tropical garden can be seen.

Bergin lives with her husband of 29 years, Mark Stewart, who is also an artist, and their sons, Riley, 17 and Rothko, 11.

It was a big change when they moved from their renovated church home in Bendigo, which they loved, to tropical Queensland, but it didn’t take long to adapt.

“We lived in a couple of older-style Queenslander houses to start with, but the split levels were not ideal and I love that this is single level and the boys have their own wing,” she says.

Bergin enjoys the layout of the house and garden that is sprawled over half a hectare.

Adjustable louvres and plantation-style shutters control the cool breezes that circulate and there’s a sense of space throughout.

The four-bedroom, three-bathroom house features a sleek kitchen with large marble bench and an open plan living area with comfortable couches and armchairs.

“Mark is a great cook and we love to entertain and frequently move outside to enjoy the garden and views,” says Bergin, who is working towards her next exhibition, Royal Gala Performance at Sydney’s Arthouse Gallery from December 4-18, 2021.

The stylish loungeroom is filled with music and books along with portraits and landscapes.

Bergin creates her much sought-after artwork — starring intricate true-to-life lions, tigers, flamingos, swans, and foxes that seem ready to spring from the canvas — in her spacious studio.

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Kate Bergin is surrounded by artworks in her Noosa hinterland hideaway. Picture: Russell Shakespeare

he paints under artificial lights and is inspired by her many photographs of animals from some of the world-renowned zoos she has visited with family.

Her spoon collection, which she uses for reference, hangs on a wall and her two taxidermy foxes are frequently moved around.

“We have several foxes and they are part of the family,” says Bergin, who as a child was always drawing.

The much-awarded artist graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 1992 and fell under the spell of the still life genre and the idea of hunting and collecting.

“When I paint, I hope my work initiates joy, lifts people’s hearts and takes them out of themselves — if my paintings do that, I have done my job.”

Bergin, who is also represented by Scott Livesey Galleries in Melbourne and Bett Gallery in Hobart, says the only thing she misses when working from home is “watercooler conversations”. But her cute Cavalier Spaniel, Gatsby, keeps her company.

She says moving to their house was one of the best things they have done.

“It’s an ideal location and it’s close to the beach, river and lakes when we want to go for a swim or a paddle. We love it here. There’s a sense of calm.”

‘We love it here. There’s a sense of calm.’ Picture: Russell Shakespeare

Her favourite room is their bedroom that overlooks the pool and garden, which she describes as her breathing space.

One of her favourite possessions is a small Dante /Rosetti Vita Nuova book she purchased in a Greville Street bookshop in Prahran for $25, years ago.

“There’s tissue paper protecting the photographs and it’s a real treasure — I’d take it with me if bushfires threatened, along with family photos and other paintings.”

Although Bergin sometimes misses the cottage garden look, she loves the tropical trees and flowers and their pops of colour.

“It’s an ideal place to live and work,” she says.