Kurrajong Heights artist Dan Kyle is one of five recipients of the prestigious Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship.
Awarded for the past 21 years to a young Australian painter aged between 20 and 30 years, the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship included five artists for the first time this year, providing each with a $10,000 sum and the offer of a two-week residency at Shark Island Institute in Kangaroo Valley.
Mr Kyle works from his studio on the fringe of Wollemi National Park to capture in his paintings the ever-changing Australian bush.
"I study the daily changes in light, temperature and atmosphere, from early morning right through to sundown, and the changes from catastrophic events like drought and bushfire, their aftermath and also the future of our neglected natural environment," he said.
Mr Kyle said was "absolutely honoured" to be one of the recipients, adding it was something he had "dreamt about since I was a teenager".
"I'm thrilled to be sharing this year's prize with the other winners. For me, having more winners than one is really exciting - changing five lives instead of one."
Guest artist judge Lucy Culliton selected 11 finalists and five scholarship recipients from 129 entries.
Local artist Mr Kyle joins recipients Charlie Ingemar Harding (Victoria), Emily Grace Imeson (NSW), Lily Platts (NSW) and Georgia Spain (Tasmania).
Curated by Wendy Whiteley, works from each artists' winning body of work are on display at the Brett Whiteley Studio in Surry Hills until November 15.
The exhibition also includes works by finalists Amelia Carroll, Alice Palmer, Cosima Scales, Ondine Seabrook, Lilli Stromland and Christopher Zanko.
The residency will take place over two weeks from Monday, November 16 to Sunday, November 29 (COVID restrictions pending).
During the residency, Mr Kyle and the other four young artists will be offered a mentoring session by Ben Quilty, a former recipient of the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship.