An Indigenous man who first held a paintbrush a year ago has taken out Australia's richest landscape prize worth $100,000.

Key points: Carbiene McDonald Tjangala started painting at his local art centre last year

Carbiene McDonald Tjangala started painting at his local art centre last year His Hadley's Art Prize entry represents four Dreamtime stories he was told by his father

His Hadley's Art Prize entry represents four Dreamtime stories he was told by his father He belongs to a family of well known artists in central Australia

Carbiene McDonald Tjangala's work Four Dreamings was selected as the winner of the Hadley's Art Prize from more than 600 other paintings.

It took McDonald Tjangala two days to travel from the remote community of Papunya in the Northern Territory to Tasmania — he took his first ever flight during the journey.

His sister Karen, who translated for McDonald Tjangala, said he had been overwhelmed by his overnight success.

"Happy — he's really happy and grateful because this is our first time coming [here]," his sister said.

'He paints until we have to kick him out'

The Hadley Art Prize is worth $100,000. ( ABC News: Katri Uibu )

McDonald Tjangala, who comes from a family of well known artists, first held a paintbrush 12 months ago, when a local art centre that was initially designed for women opened for men.

Since then, he and his brush have been inseparable.

Betty Pula Morton's artwork My Country and Bush Medicine was highly commended. ( Supplied: Hadley's Art Prize )

Papunya art studio facilitator Andrew Lyons-Dawson said McDonald Tjangala would at times be so immersed in his art, he would refuse to leave.

"He's often there before it opens and paints until we have to kick him out at the end of the day when we're closing because he'll be in there, trying to finish paintings," he said.

Work 'exciting and original' with 'universal quality'

McDonald Tjangala's work, which represents four Dreamtime stories he inherited from his father, immediately fascinated the judges.

Jane Clark, curator at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), described it as "an incredibly exciting work".

"It stood out as particularly exciting and original. And a combination of something very real — the shimmer and the desert — something that has universal quality," she said.

Carbiene McDonald Tjangala poses for a photo for his sister Karen. ( ABC News: Katri Uibu )

Curator and gallerist Susan McCulloch, who specialises in Aboriginal art, said it was not uncommon for Indigenous artists to discover their talent later in life.

"It's a very common practice in Aboriginal art because people have been making marks in different forms all their lives — they've been painting on their bodies in ceremonies, creating designs in the sand," she said.

Before returning to his community, Tjangala will visit MONA tomorrow, to draw inspiration from Australia's new and old art.

The Hadley's Art Prize is acquisitive and was established in 2017.

It is announced each year at Hadley's Orient Hotel in Hobart.