When Bonnyrigg High School visual arts teacher Vickii Paton asked her students to create a self-portrait using only a stick, ink and paper, she thought it would be a challenge.

For Loribelle Spirovski, it was an opportunity.

“Some were okay, but hers was beyond HSC level, just with a stick. It was amazing,” Ms Paton said.

“I thought I was setting them a hard task, but not for her. She was just brilliant.”

Years later, that same student would win the 2025 Archibald Prize People’s Choice Award for her portrait of didgeridoo virtuoso William Barton and return as an Archibald finalist in 2026 with her portrait of former Silverchair frontman and Newcastle High School alumnus, Daniel Johns.

After emigrating from the Philippines in 1999, Loribelle transferred to Bonnyrigg High on Darug land in 2003 and quickly found her place in English, music and visual arts.

“I was definitely one of the teacher’s pets,” she said.

“I always wanted to soak up as much knowledge as possible.”

Her favourite subjects became the same three in which she later achieved Band 6 results in the HSC as a 2007 Distinguished Achiever.

Loribelle said the support of teachers made all the difference.

“The art room became my sanctuary,” Loribelle said.

“They gave me almost free rein of the storeroom because they knew I respected the materials.”

Ms Paton, who is now retired, said Loribelle stood out not only for her technical ability, but for her depth of thinking.

“Her understanding of the arts at that age was beyond any student I’d taught. She could turn any idea into an exceptional artwork.”

Loribelle was equally passionate about music, performing in the school rock band and often covering Silverchair songs.

“I often think of Loribelle as a Renaissance woman – creative in everything she touched,” former music teacher Maryla Kurianski said.

But it was visual arts teacher Ms Paton who inspired Loribelle to consider teaching as a career. She studied art education and even completed her final teaching practicum back at Bonnyrigg High.

But during that placement, she realised her path lay elsewhere.

“I had this absolute crisis of identity,” she said.

“I realised I couldn’t be a teacher at that stage in my life. I just didn’t feel I had enough authority or enough life experience to pass something down to younger generations.”

Encouraged by her boyfriend at the time to “paint something for yourself”, she discovered what would become her career as a professional artist.

Her journey has not been without setbacks. Four years ago, chronic pain caused by thoracic outlet syndrome made painting almost impossible.

Then, while beginning her portrait of William Barton, instinct took over.

“As soon as I heard William sing, I threw the brush away,” she said.

She began painting with her hands instead.

“It was the most alive I had ever felt in the studio. It felt so natural, so obvious – it was literally at my fingertips the entire time.”

Today, Loribelle says her success is rooted in the opportunities public education gave her.

“The guidance of kind people, the sense of being trusted with precious things, and just enough of a push to know that what you’re doing is right – that is so life-changing that it makes me emotional to even think about it.”

Archibald Prize winners and finalists are on display at the Art Gallery of NSW until 16 August 2026.