With over 2000 votes lodged, it was a tough competition but it was artist Liam Barling's blue biro image that won the $2000 Archibool award as an extension of this year's Warrnibald competition.

"It's nice to get a little bit of recognition for something you love doing and something you're passionate about," Barling said.

"It's probably the first time I've actually had some work of mine properly displayed at a show so it's so encouraging to get some people behind it."

Barling said he'd been drawing with blue biros since was a child.

"I've always done it," he said.

"As a kid I have memories of drawing on dockets I could find sitting in the car and it was usually just with blue pens that I had lying around.

"I like using them because you can get it to a point where it almost looks like a print and you get a real nice tone and texture that you can't really achieve with a fineliner or paint or a pencil. I also like that's it's an everyday object you can pick up at the supermarket - anyone can use and it's cool you can use it in this capacity as well."

Second place and a prize of $500 was awarded to tattoo artist Rachael Maniapoto for her portrait of women's health mentor and practitioner Janelle Crawford.

Maniapoto also came second in last year's Archibool competition.

"It's pretty exciting," she said.

"I came runner-up last year as well in the people's choice too. Our community in the tattoo industry is really big and there are almost groupies so it's nearly expected because they're just so supportive. It's very cool."

She said she already had plans for the prize.

"I'm getting cabinetry put in the art studio at my home, so it'll probably just go in that."