One of Australia's best known landscape painters,[1] Heysen became a household name during his lifetime for his watercolours and oil paintings of the Australian bush, in particular men and animals toiling among monumental gum trees against a background of atmospheric light.

[3] At age 20 he was sponsored by a group of wealthy Adelaide art enthusiasts E. S. Wigg, H. H. Wigg and brothers-in-law W. L. Davidson, F. A. Joyner, and miner Charles Henry de Rose, to study art for four years in France.

[4] By 1912 Hans Heysen had earned enough from his art to purchase a property called "The Cedars" 35°00′46″S 138°48′21″E / 35.0127°S 138.8057°E / -35.0127; 138.8057 near Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills, which was his home until his death in 1968 aged 90.

It remains the property of the Heysen family, but most areas, including Hans's and Nora's studios, are open to the public 10:00 to 16:30 Tuesday to Sunday, and holiday Mondays, except Christmas Day; guided tours 11:00 and 14:00.

Their children were Josephine, Freya, Lilian, Nora, David, Deirdre, Michael, and Stefan.