The London-based artist, who grew up in Bishopstown in Cork city, was amazed that his painting, ‘Dance with the Devil’, sold for such a high price on Thursday.

It was the first time the artist had a piece of art up for auction.

“Bonham’s got in touch with me and asked if I was interested in putting a piece into auction so i decided to put that piece in. It’s the first time I’ve done it,” he said on Morning Ireland.

“I’m new to the auction system. I’ve been working here in London for the last 10 years and it’s always been through galleries and stuff so the whole auction house thing is a very new process for me.

“When they got in touch and said that they'd do a 10 page section in the catalogue it seemed very appealing.”

Conor Harrington's painting.

Graffiti artist Banky also had work for sale at Bonham’s auction. "Rude Copper", a screen-print and spray painted image of a British bobby making a rude gesture, was his top seller, going for £32,500 (€43,227), exceeding an estimate of £12,000 (€15,961).

Harrington produced the painting in 2013 but had held on to it on the advice of a friend.

“Normally most of the paintings that I do are exhibited but another artist friend of mine advised me that I should hang on to some of my work for the future.”

The intricate painting is based on a photoshoot arranged by the artist. He arranged sets and hired actors to create the striking scene.

“Everything that is in that painting was in a photograph. I got those guys in, they’re both actors, and I dressed them up in costumes and hired all the props that are in the background. Then I took a photo and started the painting process from there.”

Harrington started his career working as a graffiti artist in the mid-1990s. Other paintings of his have been bought by celebrity collectors including Alicia Keys, Jared Leto and Damien Hirst.

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