Zac Bennett-Brook watched one of his works go under the hammer for $16,000 on Thursday night at a swanky Sydney cocktail party hosted by TAG Heuer.

The luxury Swiss watchmaker was in Sydney to announce Hemsworth as its new ambassador. 

A company representative had earlier commissioned a work from Bennett-Brook to be auctioned on the night.

“There was about eight people bidding on it,” Mr Bennett-Brook told the Mercury.

“It was great, but I didn’t see who it went to. I asked [Hemsworth] and he didn’t know. 

“We got to have a chat – he’s a nice guy.” 

Proceeds of the auction went to  Australian Childhood foundation, which is also fronted by Hemsworth. 

Inspired by his Aboriginal heritage and his love of the surf, Bennett-Brook takes broken surfboards and patches them back together to create a Dreamtime canvas.

His traditional dot painting style, and his decision to pursue his art, has taken off in consultation with various Aboriginal elders.

The 25-year-old  studied teaching at university but, in a moved that caused some  controversy within his family – turned his back on a full-time job as a PE teacher in order to pursue his art dreams. 

He said his choice had the support of his grandmother and a trusted elder, Uncle Vic Chapman of Woonona.

“He said, go for it, young fella’,” Bennett-Brook said

“Keep our culture alive.”

The watchmaker was very specific about how the work should look, to the point that the cool-headed Bennett-Brook walked away from the commission at one point.

He was soon reinstated, with a freer reign.

“We worked it out, and then I found out who it was for,” Bennett-Brook said.

The artist has sold about 30 of the boards after three years in the industry.

“Demand for [Aboriginal art] seems to fluctuate,” he said. 

“At the moment it’s been pretty good.”