Ms Gough's superb portrait was a unanimous choice by the panel of judges that included 2012 Mortimore Prize winner Tricia Reust, Australian Artist Magazine editor Helen Grant and artist Graham Cox. Ms Gough receives $15,000 for her win.

The judges said there was a 'wow factor' quality to the winning portrait which captured a moment in time.

"It rests comfortably somewhere between a drawing and a painting, giving it an element of freshness and spontaneity which is one of its great drawcards," they said.

"The confident, loose treatment demonstrates the benefit of not overworking art. The subject leaves a lot to the viewer's imagination, with an element of suggestive intrigue, questioning what the figure is actually doing."

Others to shine included Gold Coast painter Shannon Doyle, who won both the figurative and surrealism sections. This was the first occasion multiple sections had been won by a single artist.

South coast painter Steve Harris picked up an award for best still life.

The Mortimore Prize is now open to global entry and this has had immediate effect, with Lilianne Milgrom from Fairfax, Virginia, USA receiving the runner-up in the smalls section with a true miniature titled 'Le Parisien'.

Four Dubbo artists were selected as finalists in the leading realism art event. They included Kathryn Wilkinson, Leanne Watt, Gillian Pedrana and Sue Hodge.

The Mortimore Prize can be viewed by the public at St Brigid's Hall, Brisbane Street, Dubbo from 10am to 4pm.