From The Rainforest To The Reef Katie Louise Bigg Transforms Rockingham Walls

Katie Louise Bigg with her recently unveiled large scale mural at Cardwell’s Rockingham Aged Care Centre. Photo supplied

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Katie Louise Bigg has once again left her artistic mark on the region, unveiling a stunning series of large-scale realism murals at Cardwell’s Rockingham Aged Care Centre.

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Inspired by the region's natural beauty, residents and staff worked closely to develop the theme of the artwork, which complements the facility's residential wings while celebrating the diverse landscapes of North Queensland. Spanning from rainforest to reef, the murals feature an array of iconic local flora and fauna, including cassowaries, flying foxes and wompoo fruit-doves, alongside recognisable landmarks such as the Cardwell Spa Pools and Murray Falls.

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Ms Bigg said she was overjoyed when she was commissioned to create the artwork, describing the opportunity to paint within an aged care facility as rewarding in many ways.

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“It was so meaningful and special to paint at the Rockingham Aged Care Centre,” she said.

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“The residents would walk by each day giving me encouragement, sit and watch me paint, or chat with me about their life experiences for hours. They really loved watching the works come to life, and I loved the whole experience. It was awesome to see them uplifted by the murals in their environment.”

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Beyond creating the artwork itself, Ms Bigg said one of the most memorable parts of the project was the relationships she formed with residents along the way.

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She particularly recalled a friendship that developed with one gentleman who visited her each day while she worked.

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“We spoke for hours about different moments in his life,” Ms Bigg said.

“He said his late wife was an artist and he showed me some of her work. He gave me lots of encouragement, and we shared plenty of laughs. He was also very impressed with the murals and loved watching them come together.”

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Having brought colour to communities across the region for years, Ms Bigg has become known for her highly realistic murals and their emotional resonance; a painting style she says has always come naturally to her.

“I tend to lean towards highly saturated and high contract colours as with each piece I try to replicate the liveliness of the reference image I’m painting as best as I can,” she explained.

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“When people see my murals, my intention is for them to experience love and wonder at looking at creativity, and what art can do. I want them to feel happy and inspired.”

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With plans to continue exhibiting her talents across North Queensland, Ms Bigg cannot wait to commission her next piece to once again, share her love for art and storytelling with more regional communities.

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“Projects I’m most passionate about are people and places that uplift the community, make people happy, and make wall spaces and environments look better,” she said.

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“To reflect what people are proud about and love into a giant artwork, that makes me happy!”

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