A host of artists, designers and musicians have put brush to paper to create potential masterpieces for the annual Secret Postcard exhibition at the Royal College of Art (RCA).

Sam Taylor-Wood, Giorgio Armani, Paul McCartney and Damien Hirst have created postcard-sized creations which go on sale with a fixed priced of �35.

But buyers bid for the postcards without knowing who the artist is because all works are displayed anonymously and are only revealed once sold.

The exhibition creates a great deal of interest from the public who have the opportunity to buy cheap art which could one day net them a fortune.

Giorgio Armani has submitted his own creation

The exhibition is open for public viewing from 21-28 November.

The sale starts on 29 November but potential buyers are warned to get there early because it is done on a first come first serve basis.

Queuing for days

Last year saw queues around the block as the sale prepared to open, with one woman at the head of the queue spending four days camping to ensure she got her hands on her favourite postcard.

Money raised from the exhibition, which is sponsored by David Bowie's company Bowieart, goes towards the RCA Fine Art Student Award Fund, which helps support emerging student artists.

Artists taking part in the show include Julian Opie, famed for designing a Blur album cover, film director Ken Loach, designer Zandra Rhodes, Turner Prize nominee Keith Tyson and shoe designer Manolo Blahnik.

Much of the exhibition is made up of works created by students at the RCA.

Sir Christopher Frayling, rector of the Royal College of Art, said: "RCA Secret is a unique experience.

"The variety of postcards is astounding, from paintings to photographs, collage to drawings, all in miniature format.

"So this has become one of the largest and smallest exhibitions of contemporary art in the world. It is a fun and creative way of raising money for the students."