Thirty five paintings stood out from among the record number of entrants from across the country with Lucy’s portrait of her partner Jamie among those selected.

The Shirley Hannan National Portrait award is one of the most loved and richest realistic portrait prize carrying a $50,000 award.

The award is a non-acquisitive prize for realist portraiture, held biennially and the Bega Valley Regional Gallery.

Ms Culliton said this was the first time that she had painted a portrait of her partner Jamie.

“He is always to busy to sit, but he turned out to be an excellent subject.

“I wanted to paint him in his high-vis gear because it was colour that I really wanted to play with and use,” she said.

“He was an excellent sitter, he just sat there, stayed still, and grinned the whole time, he was very good.

“Sometimes my subjects move around a lot or fall asleep but Jamie was great.

“Also in the painting is our latest little dog “Kitty” who curled up at his feet and slept through the sitting,” she said.

The exhibition will launch on Friday, October 26 when the 2018 guest judge, art critic and broadcaster, Dr Andrew Frost, will select the winner from a strong field of contenders.

Bega Valley Regional Gallery Director, Iain Dawson, praised the quality of entries.

“This year’s entries were our strongest ever and audiences will see works from past winners, Archibald Prize finalists, and many of Australia’s best-known portraitists,” Mr Dawson said.

The selection committee consisted of Brisbane based gallery director, Edwina Corlette; influential art collector and architect, Ross Bonthorne; Alaska Projects Director, Sebastian Goldspink; and International Art Services Business Development Manager, Alison Guthrie; along with members of the Hannan family.

Ms Culliton joins three other artists in the Bega Valley included among the finalists, cementing the regions reputation as a hot spot for artistic prowess.