<p>A mechanic discovered a dead artist's complete collection worth more than $2.5million - in two dumpsters.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>He loved the pieces so hauled them out and took them home, thinking he would hang them in his large garage.</p><p>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.</p><p>The famous artist from New York who was known for wrapping public buildings in fabric.</p><p>The collection was determined to be worth more than $2.5 million - with single pieces worth up to an estimated $60,000 each.</p><p>A collection of the work is set to go on display in Connecticut and New York next month, with 30 pieces up for sale.</p><p>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. </p><p>"When I first rescued it, I didn’t think the artist was known and never thought that it had significant value."<br></p>
