8 September 2011: Becky Gibson, 26, from Chippendale, Sydney, has won the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship for her body of work, highlighted by Broadway site # 1, 2010.

Begun in 1999, this scholarship for young Australian painters is now in its 13th year. Eighty-seven entries were received from around Australia, five of which are included in the online finalists’ exhibition. The winning entry and a small selection of works will be on show at the Brett Whiteley Studio from Saturday 10 September. An online exhibition is available now, via the Brett Whiteley Studio website.

Becky Gibson was a Highly Commended finalist of the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship in 2009. Becky attended the National Art School in Sydney, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2006. Becky is interested in developing a series of new works that look at merging the themes of erased landscapes and memory.

This year’s judges were artist Colin Lanceley and the Gallery’s head of Australian art, Wayne Tunnicliffe. ‘I thought Becky’s work showed sophistication in her handling, her use of paint, the way she understood form and colour and particularly how sophisticated her technique was dealing with it. Her work was personal and I think she is a perfect recipient for the scholarship,’ said Colin Lanceley.

This year the judges have also noted that James Drinkwater, 27, from Newcastle, be highly commended. James is represented by Damien Minton Gallery in Sydney.

Mrs Beryl Whiteley, who died in 2010, was awarded an OAM for the creation and endowment of the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship in 2004. The inspiration for this annual scholarship was the profound effect of international travel and study experienced by her son, Brett Whiteley, as a result of winning the Italian Government Travelling Art Scholarship at the age of 20.

The Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship is open to Australian artists aged between 20 and 30 years. Becky Gibson has won $25 000 and a three-month residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, which is administered by the Art Gallery of NSW.

The Brett Whiteley Studio is managed by the Art Gallery of NSW.