A celebrity art auction on the theme of passion has raised more than £18,000 for a children's charity.

Bidding was tough as 250 guests gathered for the event at Brighton Artists' Gallery at Seven Dials last night.

All the proceeds will go to the Hove-based Palmeira Project, which helps fund a home for autistic children.

DJ Fatboy Slim's artwork, which was substituted for a defaced wedding invitation at his wife Zoe Ball's request at the last minute, went for £720 to collector Lesley Kater.

Chris Eubank's photograph of himself with his truck fetched £240.

Glamour model Jordan's signed Playboy magazine went for £195 to Tin Drum owner Dave Radtke and will be hung in the men's toilet at the bar.

But the artwork which fetched the highest amount of the evening was by Harry Potter illustrator Cliff Wright.

The original illustration entitled Harry And The Eagle from The Prisoner Of Azkaban went for £6,000.

Glenn Mishon of Mishon Mackay Estate Agents had his heart set on the painting but lost out to Sussex-based international fruit merchant Frank Kinsella.

Mr Mishon said: "I'm really fed up now. I liked the style of the painting and thought it was just lovely. But I decided to go no higher than £6,000. So I stopped there.

"I also bid for Norman Cook's artwork and Nick Cave's but didn't get those either.

"However I'm delighted with the Chris Ellison pencil drawing of boxers which I bought for £240."

Singer Nick Cave's artwork went for £720.

Other celebrity pics included a photo of interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen which fetched £360, a painting by The Levellers' Jeremy Cunningham which went for £150 and one by Mark Little which went for £150.

Cliff Wright painting buyer Mr Kinsella also bought a Tony Hart original cartoon for £550 and a watercolour by Dame Vera Lynn for £220. A Jimmy Hill poem went for £170.

A pair of blue painted footprints, donated by Albion striker Bobby Zamora, raised £250.

Organiser Gilly Smith said: "The event was fantastic. We had no expectations whatsoever so we are thrilled to raise £18,000 for the Palmeira Project. The artworks alone raised £14,000.

"The prices which some of the pieces went for was a travesty so people definitely got a few bargains. The auctioneer Stewart Gray was fabulous though.

"I think the money raised will make a real difference to the children's home."