Moree Plains Gallery staff were thrilled to receive a total of 91 entries for the prize, with a large number school students entering in the under 12s and under 18s categories.

“We’re really, really happy,” Gallery director Vivien Clyne said.

“You never know what you’re going to get.

“It’s lovely that we’ve got so many artists and people who were willing to give it a go in Moree.”

The winner of the $200 under 12s category was 10-year-old Matilda Morse from Moree for her self-portrait.

“I copied off a magazine and put my own twist on it,” she said.

Judge, Arts North West executive director Caroline Downer, said “this student used a sophisticated palette and mix of colours to create a strong and convincing portrait which filled the entire space of canvas”.

Moree’s Gabbie Elbourne (12) won $300 for the under 18s category for her self-portrait.

“I liked the juxtaposition of cartoon with Japanese manga influence against a more traditional painted background.  Use of strong lines and slightly off centre position of portrait,” Ms Downer said.

Gabbie has been doing art since she was three and said she loves that there are no rules.

“I did half purple and half white in the background which represents the two sides to me – the colourful side and the plain side,” she said of her ideas behind her winning portrait.

“I did the eyes in a Chinese manga way.”

Winner of the $500 adult prize was Inverell artist Carolyn McCosker.

“Great incorporation of texture and patterning in this work,” Ms Downer said in her judges comments. 

“I was drawn to the real sense of character in this selfie.”

Finally, the grand jury prize of $1,000 was awarded to Canberra artist Brenda Runnegar.

The judge’s comments were “this portrait really tells a story with its use of spatial elements and limited palette. I love the play on perspective.”

All prizes were generously supported by Susan Humphries Counselling.

The Portrait Prize will become an annual feature on Moree Plains Gallery’s exhibition calendar from now on.

“It’s going to be an annual event that artists can work towards to improve their practice and expand their creativity,” Ms Clyne said.

“In the past two years we’ve had a community art show but we wanted to give artists a reward for their work and create a bit of hype.”

Visitors to the Gallery now have the opportunity to vote for their favourite portrait for the $500 people’s choice prize.

The people’s choice winner will be announced on Friday, December 22 – the last day of the exhibition.

Ms Clyne would like to thank all the artists who contributed to the success of the exhibition.

“This has been a wonderful way to round out our 2017 exhibition program,” she said.

Moree Plains Gallery will be closed for two weeks over Christmas, from December 23. It will reopen on January 8 with a brand new exhibition.