In the end it was Louise English's work Kiss and Don't Tell that took out the $1500 first prize.

Ms English, a former archeologist who settled in Daylesford five years ago, described the work - which portrays lipsticks as bullets - as a comment on feminism and adultery.

"I was at Mill Markets and saw a cartridge belt for shotgun cartridges and it looked a bit like a curling snake," Ms English said.

"I thought wouldn't it be ironic if I put lipsticks in the cartridge holes."

The idea came to her after watching the television series Mad Men. Ms English said one episode portrayed a female copywriter making an ad for a lipstick company.

"I must have been thinking of that at the time," she said.

"I think lipsticks are a really powerful material object."

Curator Jason Waterhouse, who took out the People's Choice award for his Windy van piece, said Kiss and don't tell was a worthy winner, "displaying the qualities of a challenging piece of contemporary art, lyrically exploring ideas of empowerment, subtly composed

and beautifully finished".

David Waters won the $750 Lake House encouragement award with his rusted steel fabricated umbrella.

Mark Cowie's poetic steel and stone sculpture Bullarto Moon won the Fundere Fine Art best work incorporating metal.

Steve Futo's work Onwards and Upwards and John Barters Zebra Finch were highly commended.