Head of Australian paintings at Sotheby's auctioneers, polishes the frame of Brett Whiteley's work. (Ian Waldie/Getty Images)
"I used to be scared, terrified of painting during high school. I didn't do any," the overwhelmed 22-year-old, from Engadine in Sydney's south, told AAP on Thursday.
"I used to think it was elitist, but it shouldn't be. I took up photography instead, I thought that was a bit more open to me."
An avid artist through childhood, the final year degree student at the National Art School managed to fall back in love with painting after high school.
She now dreams of making a full-time living from her passion.
Ms Kelly wowed judges of the prestigious Brett Whiteley prize, which is based on an artist's portfolio of work rather than a single piece, with her "physically rich, determined and bold" paintings.
A total of 124 Australian artists aged between 20 and 30 were competing for the award, which was set up in 1999 by Beryl Whiteley in memory of her son, the renowned artist Brett who died in 1992.
The first prize is $25,000 and a three month residency at the Cite International des Arts in Paris, starting next July.
"Just being in that sort of environment, in that sort of atmosphere will be amazing," she said.
"It will definitely improve me as an artist."
Edmund Capon, director of the Art Gallery of NSW, which co-ordinates the scholarship, announced the award at the Brett Whiteley Studio in Surry Hills on Thursday.
"Nicole Kelly's work is bold, it's confident, it's prepared to take risks and it's got the spirit, that intellectual dynamic that comes out of the soul of an artist. An artist should take risks."
