Lisa Wilkinson portrait by artist Peter Smeeth wins Archibald Packing Room Prize

A portrait of Lisa Wilkinson by artist Peter Smeeth has won the Packing Room Prize and is now a finalist to take home the top honour in this year's Archibald competition.

The acclaimed work shows the 57-year-old TODAY host reclining on a white couch, a plasma television behind her showing the reflection of her author husband, Peter FitzSimons, and their children, Jake, 23, Louis, 21, and 19-year-old daughter, Billi.  

The Art Gallery of NSW announced the 43 finalists in the running for the Archibald Prize, now in its 96th year, this morning.  

The $1,500 prize was awarded to Smeeth by packing room boss Steve Peters in his final duty before retirement.

Smeeth said the winning work was a companion piece to his 2010 Archibald painting of Lisa's husband, and that it aimed to capture the TV personality in the viewer's space.

"Appearing on television every weekday morning makes Lisa one of the most recognisable people in Australia and an obvious choice for the Archibald Prize," the artist told ABC's Johanna Nicholson.

Peter added: "Being such a high achiever and a great role model for women adds to her appeal as a subject."

The Griffith-born artist worked as a family doctor for 34 years before switching to art full-time in 2008.

Other finalists include popular artist and comedian, Anh Do, who has been sharing his craft with the Australian public on his ABC TV show Anh's Brush with Fame for two seasons.

The series sees Anh paint portraits while chatting to notable Aussie personalities including Samuel Johnson, Megan Gale, and Ian Thorpe.

Anh's entry is a painting of Aboriginal actor Jack Charles.

Winners for the $100,000 prestigious prize will be announced July 28.