The 5th annual Treasured Art Exhibition from the Rotary Club of Tauranga Sunrise generated great interest overnight with more than 100 people attending.

Many guests said the collection at the Mount Maunganui exhibition is 'one of the best ever” for the Club.

Warren Banks and Frank Vosper auction off art for charity. Photos: Simon Beaton

Crowds gathered at Ingham Sears for the Treasured Art Auction and Sale.

'The room was buzzing,” says Robyn Skelton of the organising committee.

'The whole atmosphere, the people and the ambiance is the whole reason behind this.”

Funds raised by the event will go to youth charity Kiwi Can, but Robyn says how much was raised last night won't be known until the exhibition finishes.

'We'll have a better idea after the weekend.”

'[But] a young Kiwi Can student speaker spoke last night and he was absolutely eloquent and incredible.”

President David Robinson and Ngawaka Ririnui of Kiwi Can.

This year the feature artist is New Zealander Grahame Sydney, whose work proved popular last night.

Robyn says Grahame is 'one of New Zealand's most incredible artists”.

A total of 25 per cent of the 80 pieces at the exhibition at Ingham Sears on Totara Street were sold last night, says Club president Dave Robertson.

'Meaning there is a wonderful selection available for art collectors to purchase over the next two days at the exhibition.

'There's something for everyone and all budgets.”

Robyn says plenty of local artists also feature at the sale.

'We have a lot of local artists such as John Towers, Peter Wallis and Ross Lee, who is a local artist who sells internationally.”

The two-day free public exhibition runs 10am-3pm today. It will reopen tomorrow, 10am-2pm. To preview the art, you can visit www.treasuredart.co.nz

Sally Morrison and Ross Brown.

Wayne Koedyk at the auction.