It was a case of fifth time lucky for Wilson, who had been a finalist almost every year of the competition but never secured the major prize.

"It's an endorsement to keep doing what you do and not give up," Wilson said.

His winning entry was inspired by a 1930s work by sculpture Rayner Hoff whose work of the same name, Sacrifice, is at the Anzac War Memorial in Sydney's Hyde Park.

A self-confessed history buff, Wilson has been painting for more than 30 years and operates from his studio at Laguna near Wollombi.

He described his winning painting as depicting the grid-like patterns of World War I trenches.

He said the sections of the human body were a reminder that all soldiers laid their bodies on the line in war.

The Gallipoli Art Prize, which started in 2006, will continue until the 100th anniversary of the battle in Turkey in 1915.

The prize is awarded to the artist who best depicts the Gallipoli spirit - being values of loyalty, courage and comradeship.

The 2011 Gallipoli Art Prize finalist works are on display until Sunday, May 8, at the Gallipoli Memorial Club at Circular Quay.