But one Damien Hirst spent years on display in the down-to-earth setting of a chip shop in Farsley, Leeds, it was revealed today.

And, appropriately enough, the piece in question was a fish in formaldehyde.

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The artist presented it to Town Street's Farsley Fish and Chips while his brother, Bradley, was working there in 1994.

Hirst's eye-catching creation hung on a wall by the takeaway's counter until it closed down five years ago.

Now the former owner of the shop, Darren Walker, 39, has decided to cash in on his prized possession.

It is expected to fetch up to £150,000 when it goes under the hammer at Bonhams auction house in London in October.

Darren, now an electrician, told the YEP today: "I've got two young kids and the money's obviously going to come in very handy.

"It was just hanging on a wall at home after the fish shop closed.

"I couldn't afford to insure it – in fact it was probably worth more than the actual house!"

Hirst, who grew up in Leeds and went to Allerton Grange High School, is the world's most expensive living artist.

His best-known works include a diamond-encrusted human skull and a 14ft long shark in formaldehyde.

Hirst's gift to the Walker family is a smaller, blunt-nosed fish called a trevally.

"There wasn't much fuss when it went up in the shop," said Darren.

"Damien wasn't as well known then, of course, but I think most people were more bothered about getting their food than standing there looking at it!"

Simon Mitchell, regional director at Bonhams in Leeds, admitted he had been "blown away" when the piece arrived.

"It's not something you expect to emerge from a fish and chip shop, but of course the provenance is personal and impeccable," he said.