The Royal College of Art's Secret Postcard Sale, an annual fundraising event now in its 20th year, opened today. The secret part of the sale is that the postcards remain anonymous until they are bought and the signature is revealed on the back.
Hundreds of art lovers braved snow and freezing temperatures this morning for the chance to buy artworks by some of the country's top creative names for just £45.
Some had been camping outside the Royal College of Art (RCA) since Tuesday for the Secret Postcard Sale, which features miniature works by designer Sir Paul Smith, Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park and artist Julian Opie.
An RCA spokeswoman counted 50 tents outside the site at Battersea, south-west London, as of last night, and said there were at least 300 people queueing when the doors opened at 7am today.
But even those at the front were taking something of a gamble on getting their hands on a famous artist's work as the designs are all anonymous, with signatures on the back only being revealed after purchase.
This is the 20th year of the RCA sale, and organisers hope it will raise more than £120,000 for a fund to support emerging artists.
The event has already made more than £1 million for artists' grants and bursaries since it was established.
Artists who have previously given works to the sale include Yoko Ono, Anish Kapoor and Tracey Emin.
The exhibition was the brainchild of a student at the art college in 1994.
The unlicensed events unfolded on Saturday night at Clapham Common and Tooting Bec Common.
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