For a student whose main passion is on the stage, not in front of an easel, having her work chosen to tour with ArtExpress is a wonderful achievement.

ArtExpress is a series of exhibitions of exemplary artworks prepared by NSW students for their HSC exams. It has been running for more than 50 years and as well as major Sydney and regional gallery showings, it has also previously toured to New York and Columbia University in the US.

Ruby, a HSC graduate from Bega on the NSW Far South Coast, said she had been working on her trio of life-size portraits for 12 months ready to submit for her HSC major work.

"Legacy" is a triptych of her mother, father and herself in "formal dramatic poses" with a touch of the macabre.

"I was influenced by Caravaggio with his dramatic shadows and in a style called memento mori - using skulls and flowers to represent ideas of death and life.

"It's my favourite subject so I wanted to incorporate that into my work."

Ruby said she painted the portraits from photo references, each in different poses.

"Mum is almost regal - holding a skull and then a lily like a sceptre.

"I'm holding the flower and skull in front of me a little more innocently, like a romantic-era pose.

"Dad is a bit more modern with the flower a sunflower in his suit pocket. It has some Hamlet vibes," Ruby said.

"That continuity of life and death works through them all, as well as ideas of loyalty, calmness, passion and ambition."

Ruby said she had expert tutoring from Bermagui artist Bethany Thurtell, who has been a finalist in the Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award several times with her works in oil paint - most recently with a portrait of Ruby.

"As soon as I started painting with oils I loved it," Ruby said.

Ruby actually studied visual arts for her HSC via the Finigan School of Distance Education.

"At school art was on the same line as music but I wanted to do both," she said.

She said she used her study periods at Bega High to log into Finigan's online learning portal for the theory element of the course, with practical work completed at home. It all counted towards her ATAR - with which she was "very happy". Although Ruby has already enrolled in an acting degree in Sydney for next year.

"I've always loved art, but wanted to get into acting as a career. So I'm feeling incredibly honoured [by the ArtExpress selection].

"I never imagined this. It's a surprise and a great honour."

ArtExpress 2021 will tour throughout the year, with the Art Gallery of NSW the principal venue.