 Hirst is known for his pickled animals |
Art world bad boy Damien Hirst has joined a group of artists to design surfboards to auction off for charity. Hirst, best known for his animals in formaldehyde pieces, has decorated two boards that will go to the highest bidders.
The Longlife exhibition is touring the country as part of an awareness campaign for conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage, a pressure group fighting for clean water.
Other artists who have got involved include guerrilla graffiti artist Banksy and cartoonist Jamie Hewlett, who created the image for the Gorillaz cartoon band.
Hirst's boards, for which he has employed a "spin painting" technique, will be auctioned off at the Bark House Gallery in Newquay on 16 August.
"It's important that we have someone to fight our corner and lobby for cleaner water," said Hirst, whose wife Maia Norman is a keen surfer.
"Otherwise, between big business and pansy politicians, surfing would be a health hazard," he added.
Some of the designer boards are part of an internet auction with bids reaching upwards of �2,000.
Controversial underground artist Banksy's board depicts madonna poisoning her child, while Hewlett's is illustrated with a comic ninja.