Artist Harriet Taylor's portrait of George Taylor made a big impression on visitors to the exhibition and judge Bradley Hammond, who is the director of Orange Regional Gallery.

Ms Taylor,19, took out the $500 Dunedoo Rural Hardware People's Choice Prize for her artwork called 'My Grandfather'.

The artwork was also highly commended by Mr Hammond who judged the 227 entries in the competition's hanging art category.

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"This was one of the few portraits this year which not only aimed for a likeness but also conveyed a psychological presence of the subject," he said.

"The portrait feels intimate and personal and the scale and composition are ambitious."

Art Unlimited event manager Penny Stevens said Ms Taylor's painting had been a clear winner of the people's choice prize.

"When the votes were counted at the close of the exhibition on Sunday, Harriet's painting 'My Grandfather' had attracted the largest number of votes by a big margin from visitors to the show," she said.

Ms Taylor started painting at a "very young aged" with the support of her mother and family friend and artist Katie Barton.

Currently she lives and works on her family's merino stud, Mumblebone, near Wellington.

She is studying a graphic design course online and is planning to go to Marcus Oldham College in Geelong next year to study a Bachelor of Business, majoring in agriculture.

"I am grateful and humbled by the judge's comments and thrilled to receive the people's choice prize," Ms Taylor said.

"It has certainly given me the confidence and inspiration to continue painting."

George Taylor bought the land on which his granddaughter has grown up.

'My Grandfather' was the centrepiece of her HSC major work which was chosen for inclusion in the the prestigious Art Express.

The artwork celebrates his commitment to family, his holistic approach to farming and his understanding of the land.

"The unique point of difference in his farming practice was his capacity to water divine," Ms Taylor said.

"This has provided the security of precious water on our property, resulting in the lush and beautiful landscape which I am privileged to call home."

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