Art collectors rush to buy Rolf Harris's work

The value of Harris's artwork has largely plummeted since he was charged with sex offences, leading to Friday's conviction and jailing for five years and nine months.

But dealers today reported a level of interest returning for the paintings from people hoping they may prove an investment in the future. They are buying up the paintings cheaply in the hope they will make a profit in the future. And in some cases, the general trend that has seen the value of his work fall sharply has been bucked.

Two limited edition prints by Harris, valued between £40 and £60, were recently snapped up for £340 and £360 respectively during an auction in Shrewsbury.

Jeremy Lamond, of Halls, said the results were surprising, because the prints failed to sell at a previous auction. The prints were sold in a toys and interiors auction and were not even the original paintings.

Harris, 84, was sentenced on Friday after he was found guilty of sexually abusing four girls aged between seven to 19. He was sentenced to just under six years, but faces an appeal to the attorney general after a complaint from a member of the public that he was treated too leniently.

Ross Callaghan, an art dealer at Callaghan Fine Arts, in Shrewsbury, said it is possible that Harris's artwork could be seen as a long-term investment.

He said: "Artwork value can depreciate quickly, that doesn't mean that they can become popular again. Taking into account the Rolf Harris case, a fine art dealer would simply not sell them. That's the way it is. There are a numerous reasons why an artist's work could depreciate, such as being sold in the wrong auction.

"The media can also play a part. We have work by the artist Jack Vettriano. He was widely criticised for his simple work and for admitting to copying other people's work out of books. But the attention saw his work soar in price, so perception can be a big thing."

John Ridgeway, from the Old Mill Antiques Centre in Bridgnorth, said he was not surprised certain "tactless" people were trying to make a profit.

He said: "I think most people would take the artwork in to the back garden and burn it. If someone wanted to sell one of his pieces at our auction I think I would have to say "no thanks".

"His work has done very well in the past but it's lost an incredible amount of money recently. Those who are buying the pieces will hope in a few years time everyone would have forgotten about it and they can make a profit. Personally I hope they lose all their money."

Despite thousands of pounds being wiped off Harris's art, his autobiography, Can You Tell What It Is Yet, was on sale on Amazon on Thursday for a whopping £999. Meanwhile, it was also selling a biography on Harris, by Michael Heatley, for £599.

In Lincoln, Nigel Robertson, who runs Bluestone Art, said he had a now almost worthless collection of signed Harris pieces.

He said: "I think they will be destroyed.

"A lot of artists do lead wild lives – drugs, sex and rock and roll. But socially there's a line that can't be crossed and I think Rolf Harris has crossed that line.

His originals sold for in excess of £100k, but these convictions render them pretty much valueless."