To have your artwork hanging in the NSW Art Gallery before you finish high school is quite an achievement.

For it to be there because you have been selected as one of 70 Young Archies finalists out of more than 2400 entries nationally is even more impressive.

“I’m so honoured, I couldn’t wait for the day, I couldn’t wait to see it up on the website,” selected artist Juliette Kostalova said.

“I’m yet to go see it at the gallery, I’m too far away.”

The Year 12 student from Rutherford Technology High School, near Maitland in the Hunter Valley, is one of just three students from a regional public school to be named as a finalist for the prize.

Her self-portrait, Solus, has been nominated among the 16-18-year-old category and was created specifically for the competition.

Luella Chiswick, from Lisarow Public School on the Central Coast, and Freda Schaeffer, from Martins Gully Public School near Armidale, are the other two regional public school entries, with their works exhibited in the five to eight-year-olds category.

A total of 25 students from NSW public students are finalists in the competition.

The Archibald Prize for portraiture is the best-known art prize in Australia.

The Young Archies was established a decade ago and has been embraced by budding artists of all ages.

“I’m so nervous, I do want to win, but the entries this year are so good,” Juliette said.

The winner of the Young Archies will be announced Saturday, 18 June.