Most contemporary artists dream of having a work bought by Charles Saatchi. James Howard, a student at the Royal Academy Schools, was shocked to discover yesterday that Britain’s most influential collector of contemporary art wanted 46 of his – an entire graduation show. Howard, 26, one of 19 students who have just completed the RA Schools’ postgraduate course, was fast asleep when Mr Saatchi popped into the academy last week.

The young artist found out later that his digital prints – each one a collage of photographic images made up to look like a typical internet advertisement – had caught the collector’s eye.

Mr Saatchi, who made his multimillion fortune in advertising, particularly related to images bearing logos for Visa and other brands.

When he was overheard asking a member of staff for the artist’s telephone number, there was a flurry of excitement.

Receiving such a call was the “last thing I was expecting”, the artist told The Times yesterday. “I was completely shocked. It’s a great encouragement for a young artist starting out.”

Such is Mr Saatchi’s standing as a collector that he can make or break an artist, raising profiles and prices. Having made the names of Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and other young British artists whose works now command six and seven figures, his activities are viewed as a barometer of the market.

He paid £4,500 for Howard’s 46 works, but their value will have risen instantly. He likes to buy whole collections at a price that is relatively insignificant for him, allowing him to control an artist’s market – and pushing prices beyond the reach of most public institutions. If a “product” is unsuccessful, his loss is negligible. Mr Saatchi also unnerves the market by selling in bulk. Critics dismiss him as a glorified dealer.

Three years ago he sold almost his entire collection of Hirst’s work back to the artist and his dealer. Relations between them had soured after Hirst described his patron as a “childish” businessman who “only recognises art with his wallet”. But both made a considerable profit from the deal.

Hirst’s rotting cow’s head was said to be worth up to £1.4 million. It would have cost a few hundred pounds to make.

Previous picks

Damien Hirst Saatchi began collecting Hirst long before anyone else, buying up most of the artist’s oeuvre. In 2003, Saatchi sold most of his Hirsts back to the artist and his dealer amid a feud between the two over how the works were displayed

Jenny Saville one of Saatchi’s early protégées: he bought her entire degree show in 1992: her work has subsequently sold for more than £2 million.

Tracey Emin Saatchi bought My Bed, which featured soiled sheets, for a reported £150,000. Within six years, it was valued at £1 million. This year she is representing Britain at the Venice Biennale

Natasha Kissell Saatchi bought two of her huge landscape paintings at her degree show in 2003. The interest kickstarted interest in her and her prices rose way beyond the “student” rate paid by Saatchi

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