First prize went to Daylesford woman Helga Hart for her painting Wombat Hill Dreaming.

Dee Waterhouse and Jane Reyne were also awarded commendations.

The Convent Gallery's Chantelle Campbell is curator of the event and artist and art teacher George Jackson judged the winning entry. The prize is $1200.

Glenlyon Progress Association president Andrew Azzopardi said the competition attracted about 90 entries.

"Numbers were well up on last year and the quality of the work was very high," Mr Azzopardi said.

Mr Azzopardi said the prize lifted the artists' profiles among their peers.

He said the interest in the exhibition lifted each year.

"It's the largest art prize around the district and it remembers the early settlers that come to the region and the importance of the landscape to them," Mr Azzopardi said.

School children also have work on display at the hall during the Festa around the theme Terra Con Amore (Earth With Love).

The exhibition is open daily until Sunday April 27, 10.30am to 5.30pm.