Entries for the 2017 Archibald Prize are flooding into the Art Gallery of NSW as artists face off in the popular portrait prize.

All over the country, artists are putting the finishes touches to portraits, packing paintings, and delivering artwork to the Art Gallery of New South Wales as Friday’s deadline for entries to this year’s Archibald Prize approaches.

First awarded in 1921, and now worth $100,000, the Archibald Prize is Australia’s most high-profile and popular portrait prize, attracting more than 800 entries in 2016. Among the entries flooding in this year is a portrait of leading actor and director Robyn Nevin, painted by first-time Archibald entrant Julie Pastars.

^{Julie Pastars’ portrait of Robyn Nevin, courtesy of the artist}

Nevin, who is currently playing Mrs Higgins in Julie Andrews’ 60th anniversary production of My Fair Lady, has featured in the Archibald before. In 2011, a portrait of her by Christopher McVinnnish was selected as a finalist.

“I was also painted by Jasper Knight. It wasn’t selected, which was a surprise given his track record at the Archie. I really liked it too. I love his work,” says Nevin.

Pastars is a Sydney-based artist....