A mechanic discovered a dead artist's complete collection worth more than $2.5million - in two dumpsters.

Jared Whipple, 40, was called by a contractor friend who had found some car parts in a dumpster while clearing out an old barn in Watertown, Connecticut.

He drove up a few days later and found the waste removal team stacking a series of large canvases, including watercolours, pastels and drawings, into skips.

He loved the pieces so hauled them out and took them home, thinking he would hang them in his large garage.

But when he spotted a signature he enlisted the help of an art historian and appraiser, who discovered the works were the life's work of Francis Hines.

The famous artist from New York who was known for wrapping public buildings in fabric.

The collection was determined to be worth more than $2.5 million - with single pieces worth up to an estimated $60,000 each.

A collection of the work is set to go on display in Connecticut and New York next month, with 30 pieces up for sale.

Jared said: "I was sad to see a lifetime of creativity being trashed but excited to be able to rescue it and hopefully let it see the light of day again.

"When I first rescued it, I didn’t think the artist was known and never thought that it had significant value."