What makes a Damien Hirst a Damien Hirst?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Genuine-signed-original-Damien-Hirst-painting_W0QQitemZ230371706474QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Arts_Posters_RL?hash=item35a339466a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

I was looking at the ebay the other day and noticed this item. A Damien Hirst Splash print from 1995 from a fundraising event at the Saachi Gallery.

I was involved in this event, along with my fellow Kingston University fashion students - we had to make some clothes that were designed by rock stars. It was a glamourous event with lots of famous faces, a catwalk show and charity auction, raising lots of cash for the War Child charity.

I left the evening drunk on free champage with lots of happy memories, a few famous people's autographs and an unsigned Damien Hirst in my handbag.

I can't remember quite how I came by it, but I remember chatting to the girl who had helped Damien create the artworks. I think perhaps it was one that had been discarded - for some reason it didn't quite make the grade (I seem to remember fishing it out of a bin!). Even in 1995 he still had people working with him to create his work. Nowadays he has a whole team of people working in the Damien Hirst art factory - he takes more a directors role. There is a whole art debate about whether working in this way is ethical but there's no denying that a signed Damien Hirst (whether he actually created it or not) can command huge sums on money.

One of these small artworks (15x10cm) recently sold for £10,000 - a staggering amount for such a small artwork!

Now mine is in nowhere near perfect condition - I had a fire at University and the fact it survived at all is a miracle (it's noticably scorched). So even if it was signed and authenticated it would be worth nowhere near that amount. I do have a programme from the evening which contains my name, verifying I was involved at the event but without that vital signature I suspect its practically worthless.

Even if was worth a packet I'd never sell it - it's more about the nostalgia of a special night but I am considering trying to get it authenticated for insurance purposes. Even if it's only worth £50 it's nice to say I own an original Damien Hirst.