The northern Illawarra artist first heard Charles described in a newspaper as “esteemed actor, former heroin addict and jailbird, member of the stolen generation, gay man and latter-day Indigenous activist” – later going on to interview and paint him for his ABC TV show Anh’s Brush with Fame.

“I feel very lucky that Jack let me paint his portrait for the Archibald prize. He’s an extraordinary Australian with a great face full of character. Jack has lived a big life and I enjoyed getting to know him and painting his portrait immensely,” Do said.

The win follows Do’s 2014 Archibald finalist portrait of his father, Tam Do.

Art Gallery of New South Wales Director Michael Brand said the striking portrait clearly moved visitors at this year’s Archibald exhibition.

The Archibald Prize People’s Choice was first awarded in 1988 and this year was voted for by more than 15,000 members of the public who visited the exhibition before 2 October 2017.

Former Illawarra resident Mitch Cairns took out the major Archibald prize of $100,000 in July for his controversial Matisse-style abstract of his partner Agatha Gothe-Snape.