'I bought cat painting for £20 in charity shop and was floored by it's true value'

Discovering a bargain is always incredibly rewarding, particularly when the item was originally pricey, and one shrewd bargain hunter couldn't believe what occurred when he visited a charity shop recently. Chris Hutton has disclosed how he hit the jackpot after purchasing a piece of artwork for merely £20, only to find out it could be valued at over £450.

Chris, who has been trying his hand at reselling for six years, explained he frequently relies on his gut feeling when browsing car boot sales and charity shops. Recently, he was strolling past a charity shop in Dorset when an eye-catching canvas in the window grabbed his attention that he simply couldn't ignore.

Though the 47-year-old doesn't typically spend money on art – and confesses he's not even keen on cats – something about the distinctive piece made him pause.

The picture, by artist Lee Woods, was tagged at just £20, and Chris reckoned it was too good to walk away from. He managed to wrestle the frame from the display and chose on the spot to take a chance. He said: "Sometimes you just get a feeling that something is worth buying, even without any knowledge.

"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," he added.

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When he brought it home, the reseller and support worker realised it wasn't merely a print, but an authentic original. It suddenly struck Chris that he might be sitting on a substantial windfall.

Chris discovered that comparable works by the same artist were selling for anywhere between £200 and over £700 online.

He said: "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."

Chris outlined the excitement of never knowing what hidden treasures he might uncover – from rare collectables to unexpected finds.

And whilst this recent purchase remains a risk until it actually sells, Chris feels confident his instinct will prove worthwhile.

"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," he added.

Chris is already searching for his next discovery; he's already identified one similar Lee Woods piece that sold for £360 at auction, whilst another has been listed online for £650.

Meanwhile, eBay vendors are advertising similar cat paintings for as much as £720 – evidence that the feline fascination can be lucrative business.

Chris is now preparing to list the distinctive artwork for £450 – transforming his casual charity shop visit into a potential money-spinner.

He revealed: "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."