A thrifty bargain hunter has revealed how he struck gold after snapping up a piece of artwork for just £20 – only to discover it could be worth more than £450.
Chris Hutton was walking past a charity shop in Dorset when a striking canvas in the window caught his eye.
The 47-year-old doesn’t usually splash out on art – and admits he’s not even a fan of cats – but something about the unusual piece made him stop in his tracks.
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Curious, he managed to wrangle the frame out of the display and decided on the spot to take a punt.
The picture, by artist Lee Woods, was priced at just £20 – and Chris thought it was too good to leave behind.
When he got it home, the reseller and support worker discovered it wasn’t just a print, but an original.
That meant he could be sitting on a serious windfall, with similar works by the same painter fetching anything from £200 to more than £700 online.
“Sometimes you just get a feeling that something is worth buying, even without any knowledge,” he told What’s The Jam.
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“I’m not into art and certainly not into cats, nor an expert on artwork but thought this was unique looking and worth risking £20 on it.
“Buying to resell can sometimes be a bit of a gamble but I have been doing this on and off for approximately six years now and my knowledge for knowing what to buy and what will sell is increasing as the years go on.
“It’s a buzz as you never know what you are going to find whether it’s from a charity shop or car boot sale.”
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Chris, who has been dabbling in reselling for six years, said he often trusts his instincts when browsing car boot sales and charity shops.
He described the thrill of not knowing what hidden treasures he might stumble across – from rare collectibles to unexpected gems.
And while this latest buy is a gamble until it actually sells, Chris is confident his hunch will pay off.
He’s already spotted one similar Lee Woods artwork that went for £360 at auction, while another has been advertised online for £650.
Meanwhile, eBay sellers are listing comparable cat paintings for as much as £720 – proof that the feline fancy can be big business.
Chris is now set to put the unique artwork up for sale at £450 – turning his casual charity shop browse into a potential cash jackpot.
He said: “Since taken it out of the frame to see that it is an original. It possibly looked like a print to some people online.
“At the moment, I am £20 down, so nothing is certain until I finally sell it.
“But it will sell for what someone thinks it is worth and researching similar art work by the artist would suggest it could sell for anywhere between £200 – £600.”
