Rylan Clark, the X Factor contestant turned presenter, has become an artworld moneyspinner - with reproductions of his portrait by Grayson Perry priced at up to £5,000 each.

The artist has painted the bearded Celebrity Big Brother winner for a porcelain miniature called The Earl Of Essex which is being displayed at the National Portrait Gallery, close to images of celebrated figures such as the authors George Eliot and Wilkie Collins.

And gallery bosses - together with Perry - appear to be hoping Rylan has the "cheques factor", with copies of the artwork on sale for four-figures sums.

Perry unveiled a series of new artworks at the gallery in London for an exhibition in which he explores the notion of "identity" and the stories behind his creations feature in a new Channel 4 series, Grayson Perry: Who Are You? which begins tonight (October 22).

Among the works are a vase inspired by the former Energy Secretary Chris Huhne, decorated with images of penises, speed cameras and his personalised number plate to denote the downfall which led not only to his resignation from the Cabinet but his imprisonment for perverting the course of justice.

Other subjects of his new works include a young female to male transsexual and a female convert to Islam.

Discussing his work, Perry said that he used metaphors and images to help capture a subject's identity, rather than aiming to capture their exact likeness.

"That's not what I'm about - I'm about taking a snapshot in the narrative story of people's lives," he said.

Other works on display include his tapestry Comfort Blanket in which he portrays images and names of things which sum up the social fabric of Britain.

An image of the Queen's head from the tapestry also features on a shopping bag for sale in the gallery's gift shop, costing £25.