Tax disc holder by Sir Peter Blake. Yep – that's right – a tax-disc holder

They’re a little bit tacky and verging on the ridiculous, but these tax disc holders add a sprinkling of creative spice to the dreary necessity – and otherwise creative blackhole – that is car tax. For those unfamiliar with British cars, you have to display a circular tax disc on the windscreen, held in place using a nasty bit of circular clear plastic - these holders are a more aesthetically pleasing alternative. Among the new range from Pretty Taxing are some original designs by artists Sir Peter Blake, Mat Collishaw and Ian Munroe.

By Sarah Lucas

By Mat Collishaw

But are they merely an antidote to socks: a gift that you buy for a relative but never for yourself? The company spiel says, “The Pretty Taxing tax disc holder is both a collectible and a usable artwork.” So there you go: you're not just purchasing a functional object, but a limited-edition piece of art at a bargain price.

By Gary Hume

By Don Brown

Pretty Taxing will launch new editions by leading artists and designers on a regular basis so that customers can build their own in-car art collection (thereby dramatically reducing the risk of pulling up in the carpark next to someone with the same tax disc artwork as you). Contemporary art meets practicality, in the comfort of your car.

Perhaps they should be compulsory in taxis so the icebreaker will never have to be the awkward, “So, have you been busy today?” ever again.

More info at Pretty Taxing's page at the Art Car Book Fair site.

By Ian Monroe

By Abigail Lane